District Attorney Summer Stephan has devoted her life to protecting and providing justice to the most vulnerable and is
a national leader in the fight against human trafficking. Summer rose through the ranks to be overwhelmingly elected as
District Attorney in 2018 and 2022. As the Chairwoman of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), Stephan
brings her extensive legal experience and unwavering commitment to the rule of law and equal justice to a national
platform, aiming to elevate the role of prosecutors in safeguarding the rights of crime victims and enhancing public safety
across the United States. In 2022, Stephan was named one of “The Five Best Prosecutors in America,” by the Manhattan
Institute, utilizing evaluation factors of integrity, fidelity to the rule of law, responsible innovations, and community
relations.
As the elected District Attorney of San Diego County, California and its 3.3 million people since 2018, Stephan leads the
fifth largest DA’s office in the nation with a professional staff of 1,000 employees. Under her leadership, the San Diego
DA’s office has implemented innovative programs in partnership with law enforcement and the community she serves that
combine ethical prosecution with prevention strategies that have allowed San Diego to remain one of the safest urban
counties in America.
Stephan's initiatives include the creation of a countywide school threats protocol to stop those who might carry out mass
shootings before they can act. Stephan also formed a specialized team to effectively combat Organized Retail thefts and
related crimes plaguing our nation. Her office is a key partner in a regional taskforce that is a collaboration between law
enforcement and businesses to solve cases and build effective prosecutions. DA Stephan’s team has been able to successfully prosecute several large retail and burglary criminal groups in partnership with law enforcement and the community. Stephan created Blueprint for Mental Health Reform by working collaboratively to address the intersection of mental health, homelessness, and the criminal justice system. She led and funded countywide de-escalation training for every San Diego County police department to better protect the lives of community members and officers and opened a state-of-the-art
Family Justice Center. She also fulfilled a commitment to have every rape kit in her county tested. Stephan’s focus on
protecting seniors led to a first of its kind Elder Justice Taskforce. Her office is laser focused on the prosecution of human
trafficking, and deadly fentanyl dealers.
A national leader in combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation, Stephan pioneered San Diego’s Sex Crimes
and Human Trafficking Division and has served as co-chair of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ)
Human Trafficking committee since 2019. She was named an Angel of Anti-Human Trafficking. She spearheaded the
innovative “Know the Price” campaign, which focused on reducing sexual assaults on college campuses. She also led
the award-winning “The Ugly Truth” human trafficking awareness campaign. Her exemplary work has earned her
numerous awards, including the Meritorious Public Service Award-the top public service award granted by the U.S.
Department of Justice, the Bernard E. Witkin Esq. Award for Excellence in the Practice of Law, the Pathbreaker award
from Shared Hope International, the Humane Award for her work in fighting animal cruelty and is the recipient of an
FBI commendation for an organized crime prosecution.
Prior to her election as District Attorney, Stephan served as a Deputy District Attorney in San Diego County for 28 years,
fighting in the trenches, trying over 100 jury trials, including complex homicides, sex crimes, human trafficking, and school
shooting cases.
She graduated from the University of California, Davis, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific,
McGeorge School of Law.
