Candidate for
Judge of the Superior Court; County of Orange; Office 24

MICHAEL R. CAPIZZI retired DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE NO. 24

I began working as a law clerk for the District Attorney's Office two weeks after graduating from the University of Michigan Law School in May 1964. In January 1965, I became a Deputy District Attorney and was one of two deputies in the new Harbor office. Traffic violations were misdemeanors permitting me to try nearly two hundred jury trials for all types of misdemeanors within a matter of months. After eight months I was assigned to the felony panel and from there supervised the appellate section. I was promoted to Assistant District Attorney in 1971, to Chief Assistant in 1986 and in January 1990 was appointed District Attorney. Later that year I was elected to a four-year term. Re-elected without opposition in 1994, I chose not to run for a third term instead running unsuccessfully in 1998 for California Attorney General. Since leaving the District Attorney's Office early in 1999, I have been practicing law with a civil firm that represents law enforcement administration in tort claims, civil rights cases, and harassment and discrimination claims and personnel issues.

Between 1971 and 1990, in addition to supervising 1/3 of the office and later ½ of the office, I successfully tried a number of high profile, high publicity, hotly contested jury trials (venue was changed in 3) involving public figures and officers. During this time I briefed and argued numerous cases before the appellate courts. I appeared three times before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning the two cases. One case was argued twice. I have briefed and argued at least six cases before the California Supreme Court including Skelton v. Superior Court. I developed the theory of making untested informants reliable for search warrant purposes by having the informant testify under oath before a Magistrate. The Supreme Court approved the concept in Skelton. Additionally, I have briefed and argued more than 20 cases in the District Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. I was a Special Assistant United States Attorney (1983-88) investigating and prosecuting 12 corruption cases from Los Angeles County involving an Orange County businessman. I successfully co-prosecuted three of the jury trials in Federal Court. The American College of Trial Lawyers invited me to join their prestigious organization and I have been a member since 1982. I hold Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating, an AV rating.

I served as 1996-97 President of the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) and was a Vice President (1996-99) of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA). I served for 15 years on the CDAA legislative committee and chaired it for 3 years. I was co-chair of NDAA's Environmental Crime Prosecution Committee. I have testified before U.S. Senate and California legislative committees in support of legislation that assisted law enforcement to better protect the public. I received CDAA's Outstanding Prosecutor Award for 1980. For 23 years I served as legal advisor to the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit (LEIU), an international association of organized crime units of state and local law enforcement agencies. In 1984 I was elected President of the Orange County Bar Association. I taught in the criminal justice programs at Santa Ana College and Cal State-Fullerton for 21 years and served 10 years on the Fountain Valley Planning Commission. In 1994-95 I was one of 3 members of the Operations Management Council overseeing day-to-day operations of the County of Orange in the months following its bankruptcy.

I am very proud of what was accomplished by the District Attorney's Office during the nine years I served as District Attorney. Orange County's violent crime rate declined at three times the national rate of decline between 1990 and the end of 1998. Most law enforcement administrators have cited the gang TARGET teams and aggressive prosecution efforts as significant reasons for the statistics. I was instrumental in developing the TARGET team concept and gained the funding to staff the original eight teams which grew to twelve teams by the time my term of office concluded earlier this year. The annual number of commitments to state prison doubled between 1992 and 1998 as a direct result of my no plea bargaining policy. Our efforts in domestic violence, elder abuse and child support (in spite of Orange County's bankruptcy) have demonstrated their effectiveness. The Police Chiefs Association placed the node for the juvenile gang database in the District Attorney's Juvenile Unit and I formed the Auto Theft Task Force that is held up as a model to the rest of the State. The TracKERS program, which was developed in the District Attorney's Office and then located at the Santa Ana Police Department, was designed to solve "cold", unsolved rapes, homicides and crimes of violence. All Orange County police agencies now participate and with the help of the Police Chiefs Association, it has received additional funding and national recognition.

I have unmatched experience in the law and in the courtroom that when combined with my work ethic, fairness, integrity and demeanor will provide a comfortable courtroom for litigants while efficiently utilizing court time.

These are but a few of the many reasons I would be very proud to have your vote and why I believe I merit your vote.