Tag Archive for: Deputy District Attorney

Meet Deputy District Attorney Isaac Jackson

In honor of Black History Month, which is celebrated throughout the month of February, the DA’s Office is featuring stories of employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Isaac Jackson, who has been at the DA’s Office for over seven years. He is currently in the Family Protection Unit in North County doing Felony Trials concerning Child Abuse, Elder Abuse, and Domestic Violence. Read more about what inspired him to pursue a career at the DA’s Office, below.

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

“I joined the DA’s office because I wanted to have a positive impact on my community. I grew up in Southeast San Diego, but I went to high school in Point Loma. Every day, I saw and felt the different relationships those communities had with law enforcement. It became apparent that a strong and healthy relationship with law enforcement is necessary for a strong and healthy community. I joined the DA’s office so I could help build that relationship.”

Why is Black History Month important to you?

“It is easy to connect with someone with whom you can identify, and it is human nature to shy away from the unknown. For centuries, this country vilified people who were different from those in power and we are still feeling the effects of that today. Black History Month reminds some and teaches others that Black people have made significant and foundational contributions to this country. It allows Black people to celebrate a heritage of overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles and shows other cultures and communities that we are not so different. We are all human beings seeking freedom and acceptance.”

Meet Assistant Chief of the Juvenile Division Samira Seidu

In honor of Black History Month, which is celebrated throughout the month of February, the DA’s Office is featuring stories of employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service.

Meet the Assistant Chief of the Juvenile Division, Deputy District Attorney Samira Seidu, who has been with the DA’s Office since 2009. As Assistant Chief of the Juvenile Division, Samira works closely with the Chief of the Juvenile Division and our justice partners throughout the county to ensure that our community is kept safe by working together to provide our youth with the services they need to reach their rehabilitative goals.  Read more about what inspired her to purse a career at the DA’s Office, below.

What inspired you to pursue a career at the DA’s Office?

“I had no idea I would wind up at the DA’s office when I started law school. I went to law school to pursue a career in environmental law. But while reading jury trial transcripts during an internship with the Attorney General Office’s Writs and Appeal section, I quickly decided I wanted to be a District Attorney. I wanted to work with the victims. I wanted to be the person in court arguing motions, questioning witnesses, and arguing the case to a jury. I wanted to be a trial lawyer, to give victims a sense of justice and to be a voice for the most vulnerable members of our community. I interned with the DA’s office in Spring 2008, and I have been here ever since.”

Why is Black History Month important to you?

“Black History Month is important because it is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the achievements of African Americans and the contributions they have made to American society. Black History Month is important because I don’t know that we would hear about these achievements and contributions otherwise. Although this singular month represents an opportunity to put a spotlight on the significant contributions Black Americans have made to this country, Black history is American history and Black history should be celebrated year-round.  Black history should be important to everyone.”

New Deputy DAs Sworn In for 2024

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced the swearing-in today of a new class of 14 Deputy District Attorneys, who took their oath at the Superior Courthouse downtown. The members of the new class, who have diverse professional and personal backgrounds, bring an array of rich experience to the DA’s Office.

“I am very proud and excited to welcome the class of 2024 to our office,” District Attorney Summer Stephan said. “This is a group of professionals who not only bring a variety of skills and experience to our office, but also reflect the diversity in our community and who embrace our mission of pursuing fair and equal justice.”

The 2024 Class of Deputy Das includes top scholars, authors, advocates, and individuals who embody the mission and principles of the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.  The class speaks multiple languages among them, including Pakistani Urdu, Hindi, Persian, and Spanish. The class includes Eagle Scouts, worldwide children’s ministry coordinators, singers, US Soccer referees, NCAA Division One swimmers, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors, soccer players, and travel enthusiasts.

One of the new Deputy District Attorneys, Pallavi Garg, who was born in Calcutta, India, and raised in Dallas, Texas, was a pre-med student until she learned about human trafficking.

“Realizing that gross indifference to humanity can still exist in a place like the United States changed my trajectory,” Garg said. “I knew I wanted to be a career prosecutor and fight against those who treat people like commodities. I have since worked in Miami as a prosecutor in Gangs and Human Trafficking. Once I moved to San Diego and met DA Summer Stephan and Deputy DAs in this office, I knew I had found my professional home. The opportunity to get up each day and do what is right for every person involved in a case is truly the most honorable work I could imagine doing.”

For Deputy DA Carys Davies, the annual service trips she took every summer since middle school to developing countries in Haiti, Kenya, Rwanda, and Honduras inspired her to pursue a career as a prosecutor.

“I had the opportunities to interact with women and children living in poverty; I knew I wanted to be an advocate for vulnerable victims who did not have a voice,” Davies said. “Having majored in Childhood Development combined with observing a Deputy DA conduct a direct examination of a rape victim in trial, motivated me to become prosecutor to come alongside vulnerable victims as they recount the worse day of their life and help give them a voice. The San Diego County District Attorney’s dedication to coming alongside vulnerable victims, fighting for justice for vulnerable victims, and supporting them whether charges were filed or not, drew me to this office.”

Only a few years ago, Alfredo Villegas started out as a Student Worker at the DA’s Office and now he is back as a Deputy DA.

“What inspired me to become a prosecutor at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office was the opportunity to serve the community that I was born and raised in,” Villegas said. “Many of the people who inspired me to pursue a career in the law worked in this office and I feel a special sense of pride in being able to pursue justice and advocate for victims of crime in and outside the courtroom.”

Under the guidance of senior Deputy District Attorneys, the new prosecutors recently completed a three-week, intensive training to learn from over 80 experts, including staff from all walks in the office, about professionalism, trial advocacy, and culture, and what it means to serve as a public prosecutor in our richly diverse San Diego County. The new prosecutors will report to their assignments today across all branches and divisions of the District Attorney’s Office.

The San Diego DA’s Office has more than 1,100 employees, including a diverse group of 345 Deputy District Attorneys of which 201 are women and 144 are men.

Meet Deputy DA Laura Palacios

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15, we are highlighting stories from DA employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service. Meet Deputy District Attorney Laura Palacios.

Laura was born in South Lake Tahoe, California and grew up in Reno, Nevada, where she lived up until moving to San Diego for law school. Throughout high school and college she worked part-time and full-time jobs at restaurants. She became an intern at the DA’s Office during the summer of 2018, then she joined the Graduate Law Clerk program at the DA’s Office in 2019 and was officially hired as a Deputy District Attorney in January 2020. Laura is currently a Deputy District Attorney III in the Family Protection Division of the North County branch. As part of her current position, she is on the felony trial team and she vertically handles cases that are assigned to her, which range from domestic violence against family members or significant others, physical and sexual child abuse, and elder abuse.

In her spare time, she likes to try new restaurants around San Diego and be with her family. She likes being active and is currently training for her third marathon in December. She runs on the weekends and enjoys tennis, volleyball, cooking, doing crafts, and being a dog mom. She also serves on the board of the Deputy District Attorney’s Association where she oversees planning the events that are held by the association every year including Hail and Farewell, the New Deputy Happy Hour, and the Holiday Party.

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

“Being a prosecutor is one of the most fulfilling and purposeful jobs a person can choose. It is a job that is not easy, and can beat you down mentally and physically, but that is so rewarding because of the victims you help. I always wanted to be in a career that allowed me to use my voice to stand up for people who couldn’t or wouldn’t stand up for themselves. I wanted to be able to tell myself every day that I was doing the right thing and seeking justice for our most vulnerable population in family protection: children, the elderly, and those suffering in their own homes at the hands of their family members.”

What is your favorite part of the job?

“My favorite part of the job is the people I work with who make the hard subject matter manageable. The knowledge and mentorship I gain from my colleagues is invaluable and I am so grateful to be surrounded by people who are so good at their craft, and to be able to learn from them.”

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? Why is it important?

“Hispanic Heritage Month to me is a celebration of our culture and a recognition that people from different backgrounds and cultures exist amongst each other. It’s important to me because I feel that being relatable and approachable is extremely important to our community and our victims. It is special being able to serve our Latino community and speak Spanish to victims and witnesses when they are going through the criminal justice system and experiencing trauma and uncomfortable situations. I feel great joy when someone asks me if I speak Spanish and I see a wave of relief come across their face. I feel like they can be comfortable and feel more heard and seen when we can show them we are their equal.”

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.”