Alameda County Appoints Judge Ursula Jones Dickson as New District Attorney After Pamela Price Recall

Alameda County’s Board of Supervisors has appointed Superior Court Judge Ursula Jones Dickson as the new District Attorney, following the recall of Pamela Price. Dickson, a former Alameda County deputy district attorney, aims to restore public trust and prioritize public safety, emphasizing a non-political approach to the office.

A New Era for Alameda County’s DA Office

Judge Ursula Jones Dickson’s appointment marks a significant shift after the contentious tenure and subsequent recall of Pamela Price.
Dickson brings extensive experience, having served as an Alameda County deputy district attorney before her appointment to the Superior Court.
Her immediate focus is on depoliticizing the District Attorney’s office and ensuring public safety.

The Selection Process

The Board of Supervisors undertook a rigorous selection process to find Price’s successor. Key aspects included:

Initial Applicants: Fifteen candidates initially applied for the vacant position.
Finalists: Seven candidates were ultimately selected for public interviews.
Public Engagement: The board received hours of public comment, with many speakers advocating for specific candidates, including Dickson and Annie Esposito.
Voting Rounds: Dickson was chosen after three rounds of voting by the supervisors.

Candidate Pool

The seven finalists interviewed by the Board of Supervisors were:

Elgin Lowe, Alameda County Senior Deputy District Attorney
Jimmie Wilson, Alameda County Deputy District Attorney
Venus Johnson, Chief Deputy Attorney General with the California Justice Department
Judge Ursula Jones Dickson, Alameda County Superior Court
Annie Esposito, Contra Costa County Assistant District Attorney
Latricia Louis, Deputy Counsel for Alameda County
Yibin Shen, City Attorney for Alameda

Priorities and Challenges Ahead

Dickson has outlined her vision for the office, focusing on:

Public Safety: Reaffirming the commitment to prosecuting crimes and ensuring community safety.
Victim Support: Prioritizing the needs and concerns of victims and their families.
Office Morale: Addressing the reported low morale and high workload among prosecutors, as highlighted by Jason Quinn, president of the Alameda County Prosecutors’ Association.
Case Backlog: Tackling the significant backlog of cases that has accumulated.
Balanced Approach: While emphasizing prosecution, Dickson also acknowledges the importance of diversion programs and alternatives to incarceration where appropriate.

Dickson will serve until the next regularly scheduled election in 2026, when voters will elect someone to serve the remainder of Price’s term, which extends to 2028 due to a recent change in state law.

Sources

Author

Tom Wong

I am passionate about mentoring minority and at-risk youth and their parents, solving complex problems, and helping others achieve their potential. I aim to give back to the community by serving as a voice for parents, children, and the conservatives of Alameda County.