LA District Attorney Steve Cooley

THE HONORABLE STEVE COOLEY

Los Angeles County District Attorney

After nearly eight years in office, Steve Cooley has realized his goal of establishing the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office as the premier local prosecution agency in the nation, as well as the largest. Constrained by severe County budget limitations in his first term, Cooley has now been able to hire bright, enthusiastic lawyers to join court-tested veterans who are recognized national experts in areas such as DNA evidence, public corruption, foreign extradition, fraud and gang prosecution.

Cooley led a massive reorganization of the District Attorney’s Office in his first term. The restructuring was influenced by his 27 years of experience in the Office as a prosecutor and law clerk and nearly six years as a reserve officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. The changes are now providing unparalleled breadth and quality of prosecution efforts. He has developed a team equally capable of fighting crime in the streets and in the corridors of power.

The District Attorney has been relentless in his pursuit of public corruption and of lawbreakers within the justice system. He created the Public Integrity Division that has prosecuted politicians whose misconduct had gone unpunished for years. For his work in this area and others, Cooley and the Office have received numerous awards and commendations. He also formed the Justice System Integrity Division that led to prison sentences for crooked lawyers who were accustomed to a mere slap on the wrist.

Recognizing the scientific advances that have occurred in the investigation and prosecution of crimes, Cooley created a Forensic Science Section. Under his leadership, the use of DNA and other new techniques in solving so-called “cold cases” has been given priority. His office co-authored Proposition 69, California’s all-felon DNA data base law.

Cooley took the lead in demanding a reversal of Mexico’s refusal to extradite accused criminals who face life sentences in the United States. Key to his efforts was the creation of the Web site EscapingJustice.com that highlighted the issue by telling the stories of victims whose killers fled to Mexico. In 2005, the Mexican Supreme Court overturned a previous ruling and allowed criminals facing life terms to be extradited. The office has since returned several murderers, including the killer of Sheriff’s Deputy David March.

In an effort to advance public safety, the District Attorney recently created the Criminal Justice Institute to showcase experts in the Office who – along with groups like the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County – provide high quality training programs to justice system professionals.

Steve Cooley is a native of Los Angeles and a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of Southern California Law Center in 1973. He joined the District Attorney’s Office that same year. He and his wife Jana have lived in Toluca Lake for more than 30 years. They have two grown children.

APRIL 2008

Please read our Privacy Policy.

Site updated: 22 Apr 2008