Los Angeles, CA - June 29, 2011
John Lynch, a 34 year veteran prosecutor and former top administrator in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office today officially announced his endorsement of Danette Meyers for District Attorney. Lynch stated:
“Fifteen years ago, I ran against Gil Garcetti in the election for Los Angeles County District Attorney. We disagreed on every issue. Today, I completely agree with Gil that Danette Meyers is the best candidate to be the next District Attorney of Los Angeles County.Danette's credentials as a prosecutor cannot be questioned. With nearly 200 jury trials, including 41 murder trials and 6 death penalty trials, she has established herself as a preeminent trial lawyer. Few , if any, can match her courtroom experience. But Danette is much more than a gifted trial lawyer. She has leadership & management experience both in the office as Deputy-in-Charge, and, even more significantly, as the president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association: the first African American woman, and first prosecutor to achieve that position. As president, she had to deal with difficult budget and staffing issues, personnel policies and a huge population of member attorneys, a perfect training ground to prepare her for the management issues faced by the District Attorney.
On a personal note, I was the founding Head Deputy District Attorney of the Environmental Crimes Division under then District Attorney Ira Reiner. That unit became the model for environmental prosecutors throughout the state. We handled the first felony hazardous waste jury trial, obtained the first prison sentence in a dumping case and trained other Deputy DA’s all over California. Danette is committed to recreate that division when elected and is the best qualified candidate to do so.
As a recently retired prosecutor after nearly 34 years with the District Attorney's Office, the last 26 years as a senior manager, I enthusiastically endorse Danette Meyers to become the next District Attorney of Los Angeles County.”
John Lynch joined the LA County District Attorney’s Office in 1977. After only six years as a Deputy DA he became Special Assistant to the Director of the elite Special Operations Division. Before retiring earlier this year he held top positions in the administrations of various elected District Attorneys including Head Deputy DA of the Environmental Crimes / OSHA Division, Head Deputy DA of the Santa Monica, Norwalk and Airport Branch Offices and Director of Central Operations.