OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Ursula Jones Dickson was officially sworn in as the new District Attorney of Alameda County on Tuesday afternoon.
At the ceremony, Jones Dickson was sworn in by California Appeals Court Judge Charles Smiley in front of a large gathering of her family, friends, and supporters. Former DA Nancy O’Malley was also in the audience as Jones Dickson vowed to turn the office back in the right direction.
Jones Dickson is replacing Pamela Price, who was recalled from the office by voters in November 2024. Price was heavily criticized during her brief two-year tenure for being too lenient on criminals, as well as poorly communicating with crime victims and their families.
Alameda County’s new top prosecutor told reporters at a news conference Tuesday, “We need to get back to business. That just means, for me, that we keep the main thing, the main thing. This is a District Attorney’s Office. We will do the work of a district attorney and in addition to that, hopefully facilitate other things in the community. But we have to do what the community is asking us to do first. We must return to prioritizing public safety and the rights of victims. Under my leadership as DA, that is what we will do.”
Jones Dickson began her legal career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office when she was hired by then-district attorney Thomas Orloff. She served as a deputy district attorney from 1998 to 2013 before she was appointed as a judge. She served as an Alameda County Superior Court judge for 12 years until she left this February to become the DA.
Jones Dickson said prosecuting cases is, and should be, a “victim-centered process.”
“It’s our job to make sure they are heard. The expectation is that somebody’s hearing you, they’re listening to you, and they’re making sure that your needs are being met as best that we can,” she said Tuesday.
Several veteran top prosecutors within the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office either left or were shuffled around under Price’s leadership. Price hired new prosecutors to handle cases. Jones Dickson said she will begin reviewing all attorneys within the office to see who is up to the task, and who needs more training.
Jones Dickson, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors, will serve as district attorney until 2026. She said she plans to run for election in 2026 and seek re-election for the following election as well.
OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Ursula Jones Dickson was officially sworn in as the new District Attorney of Alameda County on Tuesday afternoon. At the ceremony, Jones Dickson was sworn in by California Appeals Court Judge Charles Smiley in front of a large gathering of her family, friends, and supporters. Former DA Nancy O’Malley was also […]
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