| City Attorney of San Diego | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | Thomas W. Sutherland |
| Formation | 1850 |
| Salary | $193,648 annually |
| Website | Office of the City Attorney |
The San Diego City Attorney is an elected official in San Diego, California. The City Attorney serves as the city government's lawyer and as a criminal prosecutor for misdemeanor violations and infractions. The city attorney is elected for four years, and may serve up to two terms.[1] The current city attorney is Mara Elliott.[2] Predecessors include Jan Goldsmith (2008-2016), Mike Aguirre (2004-2008), Casey Gwinn (1996-2004), and John W. Witt (1969-1996).[3][4] Ms. Elliott is the first woman, and first Latina, to serve as City Attorney for San Diego, California.[5]
Composition[edit]
The San Diego City Attorney's Office has four divisions.
- Civil Advisory Division
- Civil Litigation Division
- Criminal Division
- Community Justice Division[6]
List of City Attorneys[edit]
The following list shows San Diego City Attorneys since the incorporation of the City of San Diego.[7][8][9] From 1852 until 1888 the City government was dissolved due to a bankruptcy and there was no official city attorney.[10]
| City Attorney | Term start | Term end |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas W. Sutherland | 1850 | 1851 |
| James W. Robinson | 1852 | 1852 |
| Harry L. Titus | 1888 | 1888 |
| James P. Goodwin | 1889 | 1890 |
| William H. Fuller | 1891 | 1894 |
| Herbert E. Doolittle | 1895 | 1904 |
| William R. Andrews | 1905 | 1906 |
| George Puterbaugh | 1907 | 1909 |
| William R. Andrews | 1910 | 1913 |
| Terence B. Cosgrove | 1914 | 1919 |
| Shelley J. Higgins | 1919 | 1927 |
| James O'Keefe | 1927 | 1928 |
| Marvin W. Conkling | 1928 | 1931 |
| Frank H. Heskett | 1931 | 1931 |
| Clinton L. Byers | 1931 | 1936 |
| Dayton L. Ault | 1937 | 1941 |
| Jacob Weinberger | 1941 | 1941 |
| Dayton L. Ault | 1941 | 1942 |
| Clarence J. Novotny | 1943 | 1943 |
| Jean F. Du Paul | 1943 | 1961 |
| Alan M. Firestone | 1961 | 1963 |
| Richard J. Curran | 1963 | 1965 |
| Ed Butler | 1965 | 1969 |
| John W. Witt | 1969 | 1996 |
| Casey Gwinn | 1996 | 2004 |
| Mike Aguirre | 2004 | 2008 |
| Jan Goldsmith | 2008 | 2016 |
| Mara Elliott | 2016 | Incumbent |
References[edit]
- ^ "How To Run For Office Details | City of San Diego Official Website". www.sandiego.gov.
- ^ "Office of the City Attorney | City of San Diego Official Website". www.sandiego.gov.
- ^ "Casey Gwinn". WIC Biography. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
- ^ "Legends of the Bar, John W. Witt". San Diego County Bar Association. January 2006. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- ^ "Mara Elliott and Women Trailblazers in San Diego". San Diego County Democratic Party. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
- ^ "City Attorney Divisions | City of San Diego Official Website". www.sandiego.gov.
- ^ Smythe, William Ellworth (1907). History of San Diego, 1542-1908. History Co. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ McGrew, Clarence Alan (1922). City of San Diego and San Diego County: The Birthplace of California, Volume 1. American Historical Society. p. 426. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ "ELECTION HISTORY – CITY ATTORNEY, CITY OF SAN DIEGO" (PDF). City of San Diego. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ "A History of San Diego Government | City of San Diego Official Website". www.sandiego.gov. City of San Diego. Retrieved April 22, 2017.