The Alameda County District Attorney manages an office of 400 people.

It’s a daunting responsibility that requires someone with deep knowledge of the law, extensive experience prosecuting and overseeing cases, and a passion for pursuing justice in a way that improves public safety and ensures that the victims and survivors of crime are heard.

Luckily, we have District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson.

Ursula grew up in an area of Los Angeles that was no stranger to violence. She always found it unjust that more wasn’t done to keep her community safe, and from an early age, she dedicated her life in the pursuit of real justice, for the people.

After graduating from UC Berkeley and earning a JD from the University of San Francisco in 1998, Ursula soon joined the Alameda County District Attorney’s office as a prosecutor. For 15 years, she was in the trenches of securing justice for victims and gained deep insights on how to navigate our complex legal system. She is especially proud of her work establishing clear and enforceable policies and protocols for Commercially Sexually Exploited Minors.

In 2013, Ursula was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as an Alameda County Superior Court Judge, where she would preside for the next 11 years. Her tenure as a Superior Court Judge was above reproach, and she developed a reputation as a judge who was fair, who understood the law intimately, and who would assure that everyone in her courtroom received due process and fair treatment.

As Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Courts, she was in regular contact with attorneys representing all parties, social services, the Probation Department, victims’ advocates, non-profit organizations, and specialists in the field to help young people and their families navigate the court system.

In 2025, with a vacancy in the District Attorney’s office, Ursula was one of more than two dozen applicants seeking the role of DA. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors selected Ursula, because they knew she brought extensive experience to the role, had a deep familiarity with existing casework, had a passion for helping victims, and would be successful in managing a complex office.

Since then, she has worked around the clock to restore the District Attorney’s office to full capacity. In a matter of months, Ursula and her diverse team of seasoned prosecutors have dug the office out of a charging backlog of more than two thousand cases. Ursula regularly meets with victims, community leaders, and non-profit organizations that work with the county to build on her early success and transform the District Attorney’s office to one that is rooted in justice and ready to tackle the many public safety challenges Alameda County faces.

She hopes to earn voter support in 2026 to continue this important work and make the Alameda County District Attorney’s office an exemplar of what happens when we follow the law and focus on doing what’s right.