Maggie's profile: in Maggie's own words Part I

Why I am different from the other candidates:

I am the most experienced prosecutor among the candidates, with an extensive successful background in a broad range of the most serious cases-murder, sexual assault and other violent felonies. The job of District Attorney includes the responsibility to review ongoing investigations as well as to ultimately determine if a criminal charge will be filed and what should be the appropriate outcome. Frequently, the D.A. must make critical decisions in a very short time frame, decisions with serious consequences for individuals and public safety. My knowledge and experience make me the best person to handle those responsibilities. I will make sure that each and every case submitted to the District Attorney is handled completely and ethically, with fairness, promptness and dedication to justice.

Changes I will bring to the office:

Attorneys:

In choosing staff members the District Attorney must consider not only the individual but how the individual will interact with the rest of the staff, the public, and other agencies. I will recruit qualified attorneys and create a working environment that helps to retain them. Mentoring is a critical in District Attorney offices. Particularly, early on, my career benefitted greatly from the experience and insights of colleagues; I have now mentored many young lawyers. I will continue to do so as District Attorney, and create an environment that affords young opportunities to gain from the experience of others.

Consistency and Balance:

The community deserves a legal process that is fair, consistent, reliable and timely. To achieve this I will personally review police reports and evaluate the cases being filed  in order to create consistency in how cases are handled.

Crime and Prevention:

The best approach to criminal justice is to minimize the number of crimes committed. I will work with other county agencies on crime prevention. For example, I will work with the Office of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services to solve issues that prevent teenagers from completing school. I plan to work with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Probation Department to encourage alternatives to jail for those in the street who have addiction issues or mental health issues.

DA Investigators:

I will request that law enforcement agencies call in a D.A. investigator to assist with homicides and other major crimes. My experience has been that it is very helpful for the for the prosecution of cases to have the D.A's office involved from the outset: when the investigation is completed and the case is transferred to the D.A's office for prosecution, the office has someone who already knows the case well. Working with law enforcement agencies from the outset maximizes efficiency.

Office Personnel:

The Humboldt County District Attorney's office connects to the community, the courts and other agencies. It cannot function effectively unless those connections are well understood and treated with respect. Internal office connections are just as important. The District Attorney's office under my leadership will be characterized by professionalism and mutual respect among all the staff.

Part II will focus on background info and Maggie's summary of experience and her strengths.