Alameda County appoints Judge Ursula Jones as the new District Attorney

How DA Jones’ policies will change the course from former DA Pamela Price

Staff Writer

On February 18th, Judge Ursula Jones was sworn in as the next Alameda County District Attorney. She was appointed by the Alameda Board of Supervisors three weeks prior on January 28th after a thorough application process.

The Oaklandside reported that Judge Jones was competing against over fifteen other people who had applied for the job, followed by the seven finalists from the initial pool. The finalists were Annie K. Esposito, Venus D. Johnson, LaTricia D. Louis, Elgin Lowe, Yibin Shen, and Jimmie Wilson. All of these finalists currently hold roles closely related to that of the DA and have a significant amount of experience and background in law.

Jones’ DA application was made available to the public by Alameda County, and she said in her application, “My 26-year career in the Alameda County Courts uniquely positions me for the District Attorney role. As a prosecutor for 15 years, I handled a diverse caseload, including misdemeanors, complex felonies, and juvenile matters.”

She also outlined her goals and vision in her application, “As District Attorney, I will prioritize public safety and victim rights. I will conduct a comprehensive review of the office’s budget, training programs, and internal dynamics to foster a collaborative and efficient work environment. My deep understanding of the Alameda County courts, gained through both prosecutorial and judicial experience, provides a comprehensive perspective on the justice system. I am committed to rebuilding trust within the office and with the community, fostering a positive and collaborative relationship with law enforcement and the courts, and delivering effective and equitable justice for all.”

Although she has been in office for a few weeks, some county officials have expressed concerns regarding the recent changes. As reported by KQED, Jones recently rescinded several policies implemented by former DA Price, including a a charging directive that requires prosecutors to get supervisory approval before pursuing sentence enhancements, especially for juveniles and “one that established stricter guidelines for prosecutors seeking to charge minors in adult court.” These were some of her first actions since being sworn in on February 18th.

KQED reported that Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods said the policy reversal was troubling. “It could allow a prosecutor with minimal experience to charge young people as adults without any oversight,” he said.

Cristine Soto DeBerry, executive director of the nonprofit Prosecutors Alliance Action, a reform-oriented law enforcement association, said in KQED’s reporting, “[I hope] that Jones will consider other measures to ensure that prosecutors are judicious with sentence enhancements [since] the office needs to be innovative if it wants to effectively address public safety.”

Former DA Price said in a statement, “We have to wait and see what the new district attorney is able to accomplish, but she certainly will have the foundation of all the things that we were able to do over the last two years.”