#  Why We Should All be Concerned about the Attempt to Buy the District Attorney's Office

     Details    Michele Hanisee   ![logo](https://www.citywatchla.com//templates/ja_teline_v/images/logo.png)         May 24 2018      [  ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2018/042c.png)    ](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/15506-why-we-should-all-be-concerned-about-the-attempt-to-buy-the-district-attorney-s-office)

  [LOS ANGELES](https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles)   - [  Previous Article **You, Too, Can Be Austin Beutner (No Prior Experience Necessary)** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15507:you-too-can-be-austin-beutner-no-prior-experience-necessary&catid=312)
- [  Next Article **The Real Reason NFL Owners Want to Punish Players for Protesting During the Anthem** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15503:the-real-reason-nfl-owners-want-to-punish-players-for-protesting-during-the-anthem&catid=312)

  ###### Typography

- [](# "Smaller Font")  ****Smaller** **Small** **Medium** **Big** **Bigger****  [](# "Bigger Font")
- [](# "Previous Font Style")  ****Default** **Helvetica** **Segoe** **Georgia** **Times****  [](# "Next Font Style")

- [ Reading Mode](# "Reading Mode")

> <a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
>
>  [Comments](#disqus_thread)

>
>
>
> KEEPING THE ELECTIONS FAIR-We have highlighted in previous blogs the attempt to bypass the legislative and initiative process through the installation of elected Deputy District Attorneys who promise to ignore criminal statutes with which they disagree.

 This effort has been financed in large part by out of state billionaire George Soros, who solely funds the (misnamed) [California Justice and Public Safety PAC](https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cmte=C00651505&cycle=2018).

Some have asked why the Association of Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA) would involve itself in District Attorney races in other counties. The answer is, that although Deputy District Attorneys work for the county, when we walk into court and announce our appearance it is on behalf of the People of the State of California. So, although rules of venue divide the workload by county, our duty is to represent *all* the residents in the state. Moreover, the laws we enforce are not county laws, they are state laws, enacted through legislation or initiative.

When a candidate for District Attorney announces they will not enforce laws they disagree with, they are undermining the rule of law. For example, the residents of California have repeatedly voted to uphold the death penalty. A candidate who promises to refuse to ever seek the death penalty is not exercising discretion but instead undermining the laws of this state and the will of the voters.

Let's look at some of the races in California.

**Sacramento County**

Sacramento District Attorney [Anne Marie Shubert](https://schubertforda.com/) is one of only two openly gay DAs. During her term as DA she has:

- Started a program with local motels to reduce human trafficking.
- Changed juvenile filing policies within her office to significantly reduce the number of juveniles charged as adults.

- Collaborated with justice system partners to create Mental Health Court, Drug Court and other rehabilitative alternatives to incarceration.
- She is currently sponsoring a bill that proposes a major sentencing reform to the felony murder rule.

Her opponent is a prosecutor from a wealthy family who is currently under investigation for [prosecutorial misconduct](http://fox40.com/2018/05/07/new-filings-in-noah-phillips-prosecutorial-misconduct-case/) for allegations that he made a secret deal with a murderer to testify falsely against the less-culpable codefendants in exchange for a recommendation for a lesser offense. The allegations, if true are not only an ethics violation but a Felony offense under Penal Code Section 141.

**Yolo County**

Yolo District Attorney, [Jeff Reisig](https://jeffreisig.com/), is an experienced, respected, thoughtful and innovative District Attorney which earned him the endorsement of the [*Sacramento Bee*](http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article210231239.html). During his term, he has:

- Implemented a multi-cultural community council.
- Started the state's second neighborhood court program.

- Helped create Yolo's first Mental Health Court.
- Helped create a Homeless Neighborhood Court.

- Was the first DA in the state to provide implicit bias training.

His Soros-backed opponent, Dean Johansson, has been accused of domestic violence, as revealed by police reports obtained by Crime Victims United, stemming from a 2007 incident in which he allegedly kicked his minor son in the chest and pulled his daughter out of the house by her hair. He has pledged on his website to stop seeking the death penalty.

**San Diego County**

San Diego District Attorney [Summer Stephan](http://www.sdcda.org/office/meet-da.html) has been a prosecutor in San Diego County for more than 28 years. She is a child of immigrants and has led the effort to end **human trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors**. During her term, she has:

- Implemented programs to protect school children from domestic terrorism;
- Reforming the juvenile justice system to divert minors from adult incarceration;
- Promoted rehabilitation of offenders through Veterans Court and Behavioral Health Court;
- Commitment to support a conviction review unit.

Her opponent, Genevieve Jones-Wright, who was described by the *Washington Free Beacon* as "far left" has received over $200,000 in campaign support from the California Justice and Safety PAC. She has pledged not to prosecute the death penalty or offenses which she believes "disproportionately affect homeless people.” She has also announced she believes "mass incarceration" is a "public health epidemic."

**Alameda County**

District Attorney Nancy O'Malley was the county's first woman to serve as District Attorney. She led a statewide drive to curb human trafficking; created the Alameda County Family Justice Center, providing legal, health and other services to violence victims; and pushed for bail reform in the county.

The [*Mercury News* Editorial Board](https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/04/06/editorial-re-elect-da-omalley-the-only-qualified-candidate/) said, "In the race for Alameda County district attorney, there are two candidates, only one of whom is fully qualified for the county's most powerful law enforcement position."

Soros is spending money to elect Pamela Price, who like the other candidates opposes the death penalty. Price also vowed if elected that she will [avoid prosecuting](https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Race-for-Alameda-County-district-attorney-12908766.php?t=5d1c89ea24) misdemeanors, including DUI and domestic violence cases. Recently, a former client who had been victim of sexual abuse, accused Price of [exploiting her out of greed, by requiring the victim to sign over book and movie rights to her story](https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/a-bare-knuckle-fight-for-top-cop/Content?oid=16110603).

The oath of office of a District Attorney is to uphold ALL laws, not promise to ignore the ones they personally don't like. The Soros backed candidates fail that test.

*(Michele Hanisee is President of the* [*Association of Deputy District Attorneys*](http://laadda.com/)*, the collective bargaining agent representing nearly 1,000 Deputy District Attorneys who work for the County of Los Angeles. To contact a Board member, click* [*here*](https://www.laadda.com/contact-us/)*.) Prepped for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.*

  - [  Previous Article **You, Too, Can Be Austin Beutner (No Prior Experience Necessary)** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15507:you-too-can-be-austin-beutner-no-prior-experience-necessary&catid=312)
- [  Next Article **The Real Reason NFL Owners Want to Punish Players for Protesting During the Anthem** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15503:the-real-reason-nfl-owners-want-to-punish-players-for-protesting-during-the-anthem&catid=312)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>