The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has appointed Judge Diana Becton as interim district attorney. Judge Becton, after serving on the Contra Costa County Superior Court for 22 years, replaces outgoing DA Mark Petersen who resigned in June.

“I am honored to have been chosen by the Board of Supervisors to serve the people of Contra Costa County as District Attorney,” Becton said. “With over two decades of experience in the administration of justice and the practice of criminal law, I am excited by this new opportunity to reform our justice system and restore integrity to the DA’s office. I look forward to serving alongside law enforcement and county prosecutors to promote public safety, equality, fairness, and confidence in our courts and legal system.”

A Bay Area native, Judge Becton attended Oakland public schools and received her B.A. in economics from San Francisco State University and her J.D. from Golden Gate University Law School. She was appointed to the bench in 1995 and has presided over a diverse collection of misdemeanor, felony, civil, mental health and juvenile cases.

In 2011, Judge Becton was elected Presiding Judge of the Contra Costa Superior Court. In this capacity, Judge Becton was responsible for leading the court and managing its staff and resources, including an annual budget of approximately $56 million. In 2012, Judge Becton received the Rose Bird Memorial Award for judicial excellence from California Women Lawyers. She subsequently served as President of the National Association of Women Judges. Upon her appointment, Judge Becton became the first African American and first female Contra Costa County District Attorney.

“This job is a tremendous responsibility,” Becton said, “and I am committed to restoring public trust in the DA’s office. The people of Contra Costa County need to be confident in their judicial system, and I will work tirelessly with law enforcement, deputy district attorneys, and public defenders to rebuild that trust.

As District Attorney, I want to bring people together to improve our office’s accountability and encourage community engagement throughout Contra Costa County.”

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