Candidate for
Superior Court Judge; County of San Diego; Office 24

David Berry has demonstrated an unparalleled dedication to upholding the law and safeguarding the public's safety. He has served the people of San Diego County as a Deputy District Attorney for 25 years, handling thousands of criminal cases, and prosecuting almost 150 felony jury trials, with 14 murder trials to jury verdict. He has been in court, on the record, representing the People of the State of California on a daily basis since 1987. He is the candidate with the extensive and real courtroom experience, having handled every type of criminal matter possible, including: murder, robbery, gang violence, sexual assault, carjacking and kidnapping. Beyond his professional contributions to our community, David has volunteered over these many years to serving the needs of our community through his outstanding community service.

Through his career, David Berry has been assigned dozens of homicide cases, prosecuting 14 murder jury trials and obtaining life sentences for those convicted by jury. In addition to his extensive experience prosecuting homicide cases. David Berry was an original member of the Three Strikes Team when the Three Strikes Law was first implemented in 1994, prosecuting nearly 25 jury trials a year, and obtaining life sentences for these serious career defendants. He has been a Major Violators Team member prosecuting dangerous repeat criminals, handing robbery series and robbery-homicide cases. David was assigned to work with the Metro Arson Strike Team, prosecuting Bomb and Arson cases throughout San Diego. He was appointed as a Special Deputy Attorney General, where he fought appeals on murder cases and other convictions, and argued cases before the Appellate Courts in San Diego and Orange Counties. David is a leader in the office and has supervised many other prosecutors. He was the Three Strikes Team Leader, Superior Court Felony Trial Team Leader, and assigned as the Assistant Chief of the East County Branch, providing leadership and direction to attorneys of all skill and experience levels, while maintaining a case load of his own, including a death penalty case.

From his courtroom experience and successful prosecution of a full array of criminal cases, David Berry has developed a deep appreciation for justice and for public service. His sense of justice demands that courts operate fairly and ensure that the system works and upholds everyone's rights. Legal proceedings of every type must include intelligent evaluation of each individual and situation. Prosecution must be ethical and determined. Sentencing must be fair and firmly hold the guilty responsible for their choices and crimes. Beyond his duties as a Deputy District Attorney, David has further demonstrated his commitment to justice as a state-wide instructor for prosecutors and law enforcement officers, and as an author of manuals on sentencing and evidence laws.

David Berry's commitment to public service extends beyond the courtroom. Through years of outstanding community service, David had contributed to the betterment of our community, enriching the lives of thousands of children, working with others to establish parks and YMCA facilities for family and youth recreation, as a community leader representing citizens before government agencies, and conserving water for the region at large.

David has helped thousands of children in need participate in programs and camps by efforts to fund an annual charitable scholarship. David is instrumental in developing new recreational facilities for children and families in our community. He helped establish a new YMCA facility for children to gain access to sports and camp activities. He helped establish a new community park so children and families could gather and play. He is a community leader, volunteering on city-sponsored boards representing the interests of the community, overseeing development and providing a voice to address the needs of our community. He directed a water conservation project that resulted in an annual savings of over 35 million gallons of potable water. David has volunteered his time and talent to coaching little league baseball teams, Boy Scouts, and to instructing faith formation classes at church. Through his outstanding volunteer service he has made significant and permanent contributions to the needs of our community. The San Diego County Bar Association recognized that David exemplifies the best of an attorney in our community who gives of their time and special talents to create a better San Diego through community service and presented him the 2011 Community Service Award.

Through his quarter century of exemplary service to the people of the County of San Diego, his extensive and real professional experience, and his understanding of community, David has developed the skills, temperament, and ability to become a tremendous addition the Superior Court bench. As a Superior Court Judge, David Berry will continue his service to the public, his commitment to Justice, and his dedication to protect our community.