OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Ursula Jones Dickson was formally sworn in as the brand new District Legal professional of Alameda County on Tuesday afternoon.
On the ceremony, Jones Dickson was sworn in by California Appeals Court docket Choose Charles Smiley in entrance of a giant gathering of her household, pals, and supporters. Former DA Nancy O’Malley was additionally within the viewers as Jones Dickson vowed to show the workplace again in the best route.
Jones Dickson is changing Pamela Value, who was recalled from the workplace by voters in November 2024. Value was closely criticized throughout her temporary two-year tenure for being too lenient on criminals, in addition to poorly speaking with crime victims and their households.
Alameda County’s new prime prosecutor instructed reporters at a information convention Tuesday, “We need to get back to business. That just means, for me, that we keep the main thing, the main thing. This is a District Attorney’s Office. We will do the work of a district attorney and in addition to that, hopefully facilitate other things in the community. But we have to do what the community is asking us to do first. We must return to prioritizing public safety and the rights of victims. Under my leadership as DA, that is what we will do.”
Ursula Jones Dickson speaks to reporters on Feb. 18, 2025.
Jones Dickson started her authorized profession within the Alameda County District Legal professional’s Workplace when she was employed by then-district legal professional Thomas Orloff. She served as a deputy district legal professional from 1998 to 2013 earlier than she was appointed as a decide. She served as an Alameda County Superior Court docket decide for 12 years till she left this February to turn out to be the DA.
Excessive-profile homicide instances left unresolved underneath DA Value’s tenure
Jones Dickson stated prosecuting instances is, and ought to be, a “victim-centered process.”
“It’s our job to make sure they are heard. The expectation is that somebody’s hearing you, they’re listening to you, and they’re making sure that your needs are being met as best that we can,” she stated Tuesday.
A number of veteran prime prosecutors throughout the Alameda County District Legal professional’s Workplace both left or had been shuffled round underneath Value’s management. Value employed new prosecutors to deal with instances. Jones Dickson stated she’s going to start reviewing all attorneys throughout the workplace to see who’s as much as the duty, and who wants extra coaching.
Jones Dickson, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors, will function district legal professional till 2026. She stated she plans to run for election in 2026 and search re-election for the next election as nicely.
