About RCV
Ranked Choice Voting (RCV): Before voters rank the candidates, they should thoroughly research and examine the credentials and experience of the candidates.
- According to the San Francisco charter, "The District Attorney shall:
- 1. Investigate all allegations of violations of laws which the District Attorney has the power to prosecute in court or before any other trier of fact;
- 2. Prosecute all criminal cases in the appropriate courts and issue warrants for the arrest of persons charged with crimes to be prosecuted in such courts; and
- 3. Proceed in such civil cases as authorized by state law."
I have listed below suggested criteria for ranking the candidates for San Francisco District Attorney. With my experience as a criminal defense attorney, I know what characteristics make a good district attorney, and I hope that with these criteria, you will be able to make an informed vote this fall.
- The Value of Experience: In my 20+ years working in the criminal justice system, I have never seen a highly proficient trial attorney that was born; all are made. The basic skills of trial practice, and ultimately asking the correct questions to ascertain the truth, must be mastered through experience. In a jury trial, this experience comes from preparation, practice, and more preparation. Trial attorneys must understand substantive law, procedural law, evidence law, and from the experience of handling criminal law cases inside a courtroom, an ability to understand cause and effect in order to effectively persuade.
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Criminal Law Specialization: The State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization administers a legal certification program, designed to protect the public by offering attorneys the opportunity to demonstrate high competence and distinction in their legal practice area. The program consists of a written examination that is followed by a process whereby an objective certification panel evaluates applicants. The Board offers this legal certification program for eleven practice areas including criminal law.
These certified specialists work on the front line of the criminal justice system along with thousands of others. Currently, the number of certified specialists in the San Francisco District Attorney's office is 1. In contrast to non-certified specialists, certified specialists are more accountable with regards to their proficiency and effectiveness to their clients.
In the entire state of California, there are approximately 360 certified specialists in the criminal law practice area. Vu became one of them in August 1999 and was certified as a criminal law specialist in May 2000. He holds this specialization to date.
- Commitment to the Truth: The goal of the criminal justice system is not to win, but to protect the public and punish blameworthy activity. In pursuing this goal, we should increase the public faith and trust in the criminal justice system by minimizing mistakes and improving results. We should continuously strive to improve the criminal investigation process. In trials by jury, the jury determines the facts, the judge determines the law, and the trial attorneys act as advocates for the litigants. Therefore, a highly proficient trial attorney is essential for the success in persuading a jury to determine, with conviction, the truth.
