Alameda County District Attorney
County prosecutor in California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Alameda County District Attorney is the elected prosecutor for Alameda County, California. The district attorney heads the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, which prosecutes felony and misdemeanor crimes in Alameda County on behalf of the People of the State of California.[1][2] The office is based in Oakland, California.[1]
The district attorney is elected to a four-year term. When a vacancy occurs, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors may appoint a successor to serve until the next election provided by law.[3] The incumbent is Ursula Jones Dickson, who was sworn in on February 18, 2025, after the recall of Pamela Price.[4]
History
The office was established in 1853, the year Alameda County was formed. William H. Combs was appointed as the county's first district attorney.[1]
Earl Warren served as Alameda County district attorney from 1925 to 1939. He later served as Attorney General of California, Governor of California, and Chief Justice of the United States.[5] During Warren's tenure as district attorney, Alameda County created a public defender's office and an inspectors division for the district attorney's office.[1]
Nancy O'Malley became district attorney in 2009 and was the first woman to hold the office.[6] She did not seek another term in 2022. Price was elected that year and became the county's first Black district attorney.[7] Voters recalled Price in 2024.[8] The Board of Supervisors selected Jones Dickson to fill the vacancy in January 2025, and she took office the following month.[3][4]
Duties
Under California law, a district attorney must attend the courts of the county and conduct criminal prosecutions for public offenses.[2] The Alameda County office also operates victim-witness assistance services and divisions handling consumer, environmental, worker-protection, and economic-crime matters.[9][10]
Selected district attorneys
- William H. Combs, first district attorney, 1853–1854[1]
- Earl Warren, 1925–1939[1]
- Nancy O'Malley, 2009–2023[11]
- Pamela Price, 2023–2024[12][8]
- Ursula Jones Dickson, 2025–present[4]