Applications to open this week for Alameda County's next DA
The county said it hopes to post the job quickly, with applications being accepted as soon as Wednesday.
Applications will open this week for candidates seeking to be chosen as Alameda County's next district attorney.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday to decide how the process will work going forward following the recall of Pamela Price.
After a two-hour meeting with extensive public comment, the board voted unanimously on what will happen next.
The county said it hopes to post the job quickly, with applications being accepted as soon as Wednesday.
All the application materials will be made public and members of the public will be able to weigh in repeatedly as the board considers the options.
"There will be nothing left that the public will not be able to see," said Board President Nate Miley. "We really want to have a transparent process of appointing a DA."
Miley said members of the public could also organize their own events to assess the candidates as they see fit.
According to the schedule approved Tuesday, applications for Alameda County's next district attorney will be due the week of Jan. 6, 2025.
During the week of Jan. 13, supervisors will select which candidates they will interview.
Interviews would then take place the week of Jan. 20 with the formal appointment by the board in early February.
All of those decisions will be made during public meetings. At each point along the way, the community will be able to weigh in.
Public comment during Tuesday's meeting fell clearly into two camps, with activists including Price supporters saying they wanted a slower process with more public input.
Recall supporters and the union representing Alameda County prosecutors said they were happy with the proposed timeline and process.
In the end, the board voted to slow down the process by a week in response to public concerns.
On Tuesday, county officials made it clear they do not believe they have the authority to appoint an "acting" or "interim" district attorney at this time.
Some have called for the board to put someone in charge of the DA's office pending the official vote early next year.
The county said state law dictates who takes charge when an elected office becomes vacant.
In this case, the county said, the "next in line" is Chief Assistant District Attorney Royl Roberts.
Supervisor David Haubert, incoming board president, said he had spoken with Roberts and was "confident he's going to do a fine job."
Haubert said the union representing Alameda County prosecutors had taken a similar stance.
The requirements for potential DA applicants include being a registered voter in Alameda County and being allowed to practice law before the state Supreme Court.
In addition to sections on past employment and community involvement, the application for district attorney asks candidates to explain why they want the job and what their three top priorities would be.
This story was updated shortly after publication with additional details from the meeting. See more meeting highlights.
Emilie Raguso
