| For Immediate Release June 18th, 2003 |
Contact: | Susan Kang Schroeder Deputy District Attorney (714) 347-8408 (O) (714) 292-2718 (P) |
DISTRICT ATTORNEY INTRODUCES CIVIL ATTORNEY PARTNERSHIP
SANTA ANA – June 18, 2003 – In an effort to add more resources to combat criminal activity, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas formed a Trial Attorney Partnership program (TAP) to permit civil attorneys to work on a volunteer basis in misdemeanor and juvenile operations. Participating TAP attorneys receive an intensive one-week training on prosecutorial skills and then commit a minimum of eight weeks working full-time at one of five court locations. “This is an opportunity to create a public-private partnership that will increase my office’s ability to effectively handle our large caseloads in tight budgetary times,” stated District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.
Tony Rackauckas will swear in seven civil practice attorneys this Friday after completion of their training. All of these attorneys presently work at some of Orange County’s leading law firms including Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Shepard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton; Newmeyer & Dillon; Walsorth, Franklin, Bevins & McCall; Shook, Hardy & Bacon; and Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson. Each attorney will be assigned to a different court where they will participate in regular misdemeanor and juvenile deputy duties including case filing, pretrial conferences, motions and jury trials. “We definitely need the bodies and I commend these law firms for allowing their attorneys to take a leave of absence and provide a much-needed public service,” commented District Attorney Rackauckas.
TAP will continue throughout the remainder of this year and a new recruitment will be held in the fall for next year’s TAP program. Interested civil attorneys may send a cover letter and resume to the District Attorney’s Office located at 401 Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92701, c/o Todd Hart, Director Government & Community Relations.