Candidate for
District Attorney; County of Santa Clara

The Power of the DA's Office

"The District Attorney has a profound impact on the effectiveness of police departments, public defenders, the private criminal defense bar and the courts. These groups share the responsibility within our system to ensure that the ends of justice are served for everyone in our community.

However, I believe that the District Attorney has primary responsibility for fostering equal justice under the law.

The office must work hard to create respect and cooperation among its partners within the system-as well as with the Board of Supervisors. It must take a leadership rather than an adversarial role with these partners.

In this leadership role, the office must also strive to represent our entire community.

Santa Clara County has a rich tradition of cultural and ethnic diversity. Originally our agricultural base, and later our leadership in high-tech advances attracted people from all over the world and created opportunities for us all.

As the lead agency in our county's criminal justice system, the District Attorney's Office must recognize the economic and societal power of this diversity and adjust its operational and hiring philosophy to grow with it. This will require better communication with community groups to create mutual awareness of needs and realistic expectations."

Hon. Dolores A. Carr, Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County