Legal Experience and Biographical Summary

By Douglas O. Treisman

A general discussion of work experience and community participation

Law School:

My legal practice began in law school. My areas of interest were real property and estates with a focus on the related litigation. I worked as a research assistant to a law school professor in the area of real estate transactions and dual representation. I took a Summer Clerk position with an insurance defense firm and the following summer with a plaintiffs land subsidence firm. These served as preparation for my first Associate position after law school with a Fresno firm, Baker, Manock and Jensen (B,M&J).

Baker, Manock & Jensen:

While at B,M&J I handled business transactions, business litigation, marital dissolutions, estate planning and medical malpractice defense. I also handled my first trial: a pro bono opposition to the continued appointment of a conservator: I loved being in the Courtroom. I left civil practice to join the District Attorney's Office and gain additional court room experience. I intended to return after a few years. However, one interesting assignment after another, with all the attendant challenges lured me to remain at the District Attorney's Office to this day.

Fresno County DA:

The Fresno County District Attorney's Office has been my professional home for almost nineteen years. During my career I have served that Office in almost every criminal prosecution position the Office has available. From the Misdemeanor Unit to the Homicide Unit: I have tried complex, multiple defendant, murders; I have prepared writs and appeals; I have handled high volume calendars for disposition and sentencing; And, I have handled smaller volume calendars and specialty team cases, including Sexual Assault, Career Criminal, Automobile Insurance Fraud, Homicide and Lifer/Parole assignments. I have obtained life sentences on many of my cases. So, it is only fitting that my current assignment involves advocating for the Office and victims at Life Crime Parole Suitability Hearings.

I have held the following assignments as a Deputy District Attorney:

• Lifer Unit; May, 2007 + Present
• Career Criminal Prosecutor; June, 2005 to May, 2007
• Trial Team "A," Felony Trials; December, 2003 to June, 2005
• Sentencing/Disposition Trial Team "A"; August, 2003 to December, 2003
• Homicide Unit; September, 2001 to August, 2003
• Career Criminal Unit; October, 1998 to September, 2001
• Sentencing/ Early Disposition Unit; May, 1996 to October, 1998
• Sexual Assault Prosecution Unit; August, 94 to May, 1996
• Automobile Insurance Fraud and Filing Unit; June, 93 to August, 94
• Felony Trial Team "A"; July, 1990 to June, 1993
• Misdemeanor Unit; August, 1989 to July, 1990

In spite of lengthy assignments that did not involve trial work, I have taken approximately one hundred cases to trial. In addition, I have prosecuted literally thousands of cases, with many resolving on the eve of trial. Many of the cases I prepared for trial presented unique challenges for the Office which led to their assignment to me. I am a pragmatic and strategy driven prosecutor. I enjoy problem solving and love unraveling the law. I possess good instincts and the well developed interpersonal skills necessary to deal with victims, witnesses and officers under trying circumstances. I have found in recent years that assisting less experienced deputies with witness and trial questions is a forte I possess. I am also a capable writer and have found use for that skill in motion work, authoring a particularly difficult Officer Involved Shooting report, and in editing and advising other deputies in their written work. These skills have also helped me successfully interact with defense counsel and with the Bench as I appear in various courtrooms and before a variety of Commissioners at prisons around the State.

Specialization:

In 1998 I received a Certificate of Specialization in Criminal Law from the California State Bar. I was recertified in 2003. California attorneys certified as specialists must pass a written examination in their field, demonstrate a high level of experience, fulfill ongoing education requirements and be favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their work. There are only 355 Certified Criminal Law Specialists in the State of California out of the 157,550 active attorneys. I am one of .2% of the attorneys State wide that holds this Specialization Certificate.

Family Background:

I am the third of four brothers. My father, a physician, and my mother, an artist, live and have retired in Michigan. My older two brothers are also physicians. My younger brother is an attorney living in San Diego. I moved to Fresno after law school and have lived here for over twenty years. I met and married my wife here in Fresno and have two children: a daughter, twelve years old; and a son, nine years old.

Community Involvement:

I have been involved with Exceptional Parents Unlimited for approximately ten years. This is an organization that helps families and their children with disabilities and special needs. In addition, myself and several leaders in the community founded Genetic Services Central California. This is an organization dedicated to preserving and fostering genetic medicine in the Central Valley. We are currently working with the Fresno Regional Foundation to help achieve those goals. Along with my work with these non profits, I have coached soccer, little league baseball and football. I am a regular speaker to Leadership Selma. I have taught at the police academy and have addressed Boot Camp classes as they near graduation. I have participated in panel discussions at Fresno State concerning victims and the legal system and often participate as a judge in Moot Court competitions. In addition I have served as a judge in forensic tournaments.