Education

Law School/Year: University of San Diego, 1991

College/Year: University of Texas, 1988

Bar Admissions

California; U.S. Supreme Court; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. District Court, Central and Southern California

Practice Areas

Appellate, Criminal Law       

Major Cases

As state coordinator for the Sexually Violent Predator Act (SVPA), I have been lead prosecutor in numerous SVPA cases, including the California Supreme Court case of People v. McKee that upheld indeterminate civil commitment terms. I also prosecuted the appeal of People v. Michaels, where the Supreme Court affirmed San Diego’s first death penalty verdict in North County. I am also lead prosecutor in appeal of the Orange County death penalty case People v. Avila, which involved the murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion and served as an impetus for California’s adoption of the Amber Alert.

Professional Background

I am responsible for serious felony and death penalty litigation in state appellate and federal courts. This includes nine successful prosecutions in the California Supreme Court (three were death penalty), numerous Courts of Appeal decisions and representing the office in the U.S. Supreme Court.

In addition to expertise in the civil commitment of sex predators, I am the attorney general’s coordinator for Proposition 9 (Marsy’s Law). This requires advising and training law enforcement and prosecution agencies on Marsy’s Law and crime victim rights, publishing a series of educational articles, and overseeing crime victim litigation and policy development.

Personal Affiliations

Adjunct professor, California Western School of Law; advisory board, California Crime Victims Action Alliance; board of directors, John Brockington Foundation (promoting organ donation education and procurement); board of directors, Carmel Valley Manchester Soccer Club (youth competitive soccer club)