Wendy Patrick Mazzarella

San Diego District Attorney

330 W. Broadway
Suite 1200

San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 531-3260

wendy.mazzarella@sdcda.org

Education Law School/Year: California Western School of Law, 1994 Other Graduate School/Year: Current Masters of Divinity student, Bethel Seminary College/Year: UCLA, 1990 Bar Admissions California State Court; United States District Court, Southern District of California; United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; United States Supreme Court Practice Areas Criminal Law Major Cases Prosecuted several high-profile cases that have drawn a significant amount of media attention. Recently convicted a woman of attempted murder who had abandoned her newborn baby in a dumpster. Prosecuted a complex, six-week, two-defendant, attempted murder hate crime trial that was tried to two jury panels simultaneously, involving the hunting down and vicious assault on a Hispanic man in East County. Prosecuted several murder cases involving shocking methods of execution and dueling psychiatric experts, and handles child molestation cases as part of her daily caseload. Professional Background Mazzarella started her career as a Deputy Public Defender before joining the District Attorney's Office. She has completed approximately 82 criminal jury trials ranging from stalking, torture and first-degree murder, with over 50 bench trials. Currently assigned to the Family Protection Division, she prosecutes child molesters, domestic violence abusers and cases involving elder abuse. She formerly prosecuted Hate Crimes, Juvenile prosecution where she was the Director of the Serious Habitual Offender Unit, and Special Operations, reviewing and prosecuting cases against law enforcement and lawyers, as well as reviewing officer-involved shootings. Professional Affiliations Mazzarella is the Chair of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Ethics Committee and sits on the Executive Committee of the California State Bar Criminal Law Section. She lectures on ethics both nationally and internationally. She teaches ethics around the country on a regular basis for the National College of District Attorneys and other various legal organizations, and statewide for the California State Bar Association as well as other legal and educational institutions. She is a past Vice President of the SDCBA, and a past Vice President and Programs Chair of the Lawyers Club of San Diego. Personal Affiliations Mazzarella’s “quality time” with husband Mark Mazzarella, who is showcased in the “Corporate Litigation” category of this section, when they are not in trial, consists of a different genre of speaking, based on motivational topics. They are frequent keynote and conference opening speakers around the country for legal and business institutions, and present at law firm retreats on the topic of “Building Partnerships,” “Leadership” and related subjects. In her spare time, Mazzarella is a concert violinist with the La Jolla Symphony and plays the electric violin professionally with a rock band. She also holds a purple belt in karate. Personal Background Mazzarella is a California native, whose passion in life is traveling with her family. Their recent escapades have taken them from Antarctica to Iceland and Greenland, to last year’s summer vacation to the North Pole. She is also passionate about Christianity and pursuing a better life. She holds a Certified Biblical Counseling certificate from Horizon College and is currently pursuing a Masters in Divinity degree at Bethel Seminary. This is a commitment shared by her family including her sister Jennifer Patrick, an attorney specializing in religious freedoms law, business and corporate law, and First Amendment law.