After a nearly four-hour special meeting yesterday, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors made their choice clear as they selected Superior Court Judge Ursula Jones Dickson as the new district attorney. Taking over from interim DA Royl Roberts, who stepped in after former DA Pamela Price was voted out in a recall, Dickson comes into the role with a mix of humility and readiness to tackle the demands of the office. "I'm just humbled. I'm happy and I'm humbled and I just want to get to work for the people of Alameda County in a different capacity," Jones Dickson said, according to ABC7 News.
The hope is that Dickson can be sworn in by February 4, depending on her schedule. Her appointment follows a tumultuous period of political infighting under her predecessor's short tenure. In total, nearly 100 people made their voices heard during the public comment period, advocating for various candidates, including Dickson and Annie Esposito, a fellow frontrunner and current Contra Costa County assistant district attorney willing to work under Dickson had she not been selected, as mentioned in a report by NBC Bay Area.
These endorsements did not come without their shadows of influence, as many were connected to those behind the Save Alameda for Everyone recall campaign, positioned as a reprimand against what they perceived as a soft-on-crime administration. On the contrary, some speakers focused on the necessity for a DA committed to diversion programs and alternatives to incarceration, particularly for low-level offenses and individuals grappling with mental health, addiction, or homelessness issues.
Dickson, who has also served several years as an Alameda County deputy district attorney, has vocalized her intent to focus on public safety and the timely charging cases while maintaining communication with victims. Recognizing the complexity of crime, she asserted serious infractions require consequences, while others might need intervention. "We need to respect Marsy's Law. And to make sure that the prosecution is victim centered," she told ABC7 News. Beyond addressing the immediacy of her new role, Dickson looks forward to retaining her position through re-election in 2026, as her current term only lasts until the next scheduled election.
