Tag Archive for: Deputy District Attorney

Meet Chief of the Appellate and Training Division Linh Lam

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Chief of the Appellate and Training Division Linh Lam, who began working at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in 2006 as a Deputy District Attorney. She is currently the Chief of the Appellate and Training Division, which provides support to our Administration and line deputies, including work in writs and appeals, legal research and analysis, policies, ethics, legislation, legal education and training, and records requests. Read more about what inspired Linh to pursue career in law enforcement at the DA’s Office, below.

What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office?  

“My parents were victims of an armed robbery, and their experience with the criminal justice system left much to be desired. It made me realize that representation by people of diverse background in law enforcement is critical to the community’s access to justice. Without people of diverse background at all levels of the criminal justice system, from police to prosecutors to judges, those most in need of justice may not have access to it.”

What is your favorite part of the job?  

“I love working with the great people at the DA’s Office. It’s always a good day when I get to work with smart people who do their best to ensure that we protect victims and prevent crime.”

What does Asian American and Pacific Islander Month mean to you/why is it important to you?

“AAPI Month recognizes the history, culture, struggles, achievements, and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans in the United States. Only through this recognition of AAPI and other persons of diverse background can we work towards the goal of equality and equity for all people.”

 

 

Meet Deputy DA Eric Tran

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Eric Tran, who began his career at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in 2014. He is currently a Deputy DA in the Appellate and Training Division where he provides support to our office in the areas of motion practice, appellate practice, legal research, policy, ethics, legislation, training, and public records. Read more about what inspired Eric to pursue career in law enforcement at the DA’s Office, below.

What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office?

“Our mission to pursue equal and fair justice for all and to build safe neighborhoods in partnership with the communities we serve by ethically prosecuting those who commit crime, protecting victims, and preventing future harm.  As an agency, we are fortunately tasked with a fairly straightforward duty to follow the law and do what’s right, ethical, and fair. For me personally, our mission and values provide a fulfilling career that is hard to replicate elsewhere.”

What is your favorite part of the job?

“The primary reason I enjoy being a prosecutor in our office is the feeling that I am doing something important and doing it with the best team. With each member of our office, I have the privilege of pursuing justice in a manner that has an impact on the people and communities we serve. Walking out the door every morning, it is easy to step into a role where I can feel rewarded in the service of others and accomplish something that will affect people in a positive way.”

What does Asian American and Pacific Islander Month mean to you/why is it important to you?

“To me, AAPI Heritage Month is a celebration of American diversity and an opportunity to appreciate cultures and experiences other than one’s own. AAPI Heritage Month is in May for two reasons:

1) to commemorate the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. on May 7, 1843; and

2) to honor the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which upwards of 20,000 Chinese workers helped to construct. Each May, our nation recognizes the contributions of the generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched United States history, and those who continue to contribute to our nation’s social fabric.”

Meet Deputy DA Melissa Ocampo

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Melissa Ocampo, who began her career at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in 2010 as a certified legal intern in the Gang Unit and then became a graduate law clerk in 2011.  She officially became a Deputy District Attorney in November 2012. Melissa is currently a Deputy DA in the North County Branch where she prosecutes vertical hate crimes and general felonies. Read more about what inspired Melissa to pursue career in law enforcement at the DA’s Office, below.

What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office?
“I am a proud San Diego native and have always wanted to dedicate myself to a career serving others in our community. When someone becomes a victim of crime it can be very traumatizing and violating of one’s sense of safety. For some, it can become the darkest hour of their lives. Crime also causes a rippling effect, not only affecting the individual victim but the community as a whole. I chose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office because it allows me to represent the People of a community I love and to be the light for victims in their hour of darkness. San Diego is also a very diverse county with a large Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) presence.  As a Filipina American, I strive to be someone the People can trust to be their voice, especially those of AAPI decent who might otherwise be unfamiliar or hesitant to be involved in the criminal prosecution process.”

What is your favorite part of the job? 
“As a Deputy District Attorney, I get to make a difference in the lives of others daily. From being a staunch advocate for crime victims, to being a fair and ethical prosecutor handling a defendant’s case, I get to do the right thing each and every day and to proudly answer up on behalf of the People.”

What does Asian American and Pacific Islander Month mean to you/why is it important to you? 

“Historically, AAPI’s have been lumped together into a singular group – ‘Asians.’ However, AAPI’s are comprised of a diverse group of people across roughly 50 ethnic groups (with connections to Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Hawaiian, and other Asian and Pacific Islander ancestries) with rich histories, cultures, and traditions. AAPI’s deserve to be celebrated, recognized, and promoted for their contributions to this country, then and now. Growing up as a Filipina American of immigrant parents, I have experienced firsthand and been witness to overt and implicit instances of discrimination and bias. AAPI month is important to me because it is a time for all of us to come together to honor AAPI contributions to society, celebrate our diversity, and teach about our histories and culture. In light of the recent rise in anti-AAPI hate crimes and incidents, there is now more than ever a collective need to uplift the AAPI community.”