Jordan Kahler graduated magna cum laude from Pepperdine University in 2012. During his college career, he took up debate for the first time and came in second in the nation in the National Parliamentary Debate Association tournament. Mr. Kahler also was the editor-in-chief of Global Tides, a research journal. He was a sexual assault awareness and prevention trainer. Mr. Kahler received his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law earlier this year. His longtime mock trial experience culminated in a National Mock Trial championship.

In 2014, he worked as a 2L honors clerk for this Office, during which he assessed 20 years of domestic violence deaths to better predict lethality risks. His supervisors were unanimously impressed. Deputy District Attorney Lois Baer called Mr. Kahler “one in a million.”

“When he walks into a courtroom he ‘owns the place,’” she said, after watching him handle two motions. “I sat in awe. I could have taken a nap – he was in complete control of the facts, issues and legal arguments.”

In 2013, he was a law clerk in this Office, helping to draft Proposition 36 resentencing motions. The year before, he was a housing volunteer for Centro Legal de la Raza in Fruitvale, Oakland. Mr. Kahler also worked in the non-profit anti-trafficking organization Project Exodus; he served in Los Angeles' Urban Debate League; and for the Los Gatos Youth Commission.

Mr. Kaler said mock trials sparked his interest in trial work. It is his deep faith that drives his purpose, and is the main reason he wants serve as a prosecutor.

“There's an apparent conflict, serving as a prosecutor whose job is to hold people accountable when my faith teaches total forgiveness. How can I hold somebody accountable, when my faith teaches that only he who is without sin can cast the first stone? Yet other writings in my faith make clear that people in positions of government authority must promote justice and hold people accountable for their criminal choices. So ultimately, I feel justified pursuing this career - and I feel a deep conviction to serve justly.”

Mr. Kahler enjoys western martial arts, fighting with longswords, side-swords, shields, rapiers, and daggers.

“The greatest thrill is fighting in full plate steel armor,” he said. “The experience of slamming into an armored foe and seeing the sparks fly off our swords is exhilarating beyond my capacity to describe.”

Brian A. King graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2009. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2014. While studying law, he was a member of the Thurston Society; won the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Evidence; and was editor-in-chief of the Hastings West-Northwest Journal of Environmental Law.

Mr. King has been a deputy district attorney in Sacramento County since December 2014. While there, Mr. King was assigned to the Misdemeanor Unit. He tried 13 cases to verdict, including an animal cruelty case in which he successfully prosecuted the criminally neglectful owners of five pit bulls.

On his first day at work in Sacramento he won an office talent contest by demonstrating his version of the “Worm.” The prize: an office with a window.

Mr. King had previously served as a post-bar law clerk in the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Homicide Unit; an intern with the San Francisco County District Attorney’s Office; and as an intern in the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. He was a judicial extern for the state Court of Appeals, Fourth Appellate District.

Said DDA David Boyd: “Some people are the just the type where they get things done, and done correctly. Brian appears to be that kind of person.”

Mr. King’s mother practiced family law; his father was a longtime Orange County prosecutor and is now a judge.

“Growing up I didn’t feel any pressure to pursue a legal career,” Mr. King said. “But my bedtime stories were different.”

After flirting with being an English teacher, his law school internships helped him decide “with laser beam focus” to be a prosecutor.

“I like having a loyalty to the truth and the ability to always do the right thing,” he said.

Mr. King enjoys golf, surfing, and blues guitar.

Marisa Landín graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in 2008. While studying in New Haven, she was awarded the “Summer in Japan” Fellowship in 2006 and a student representative position at the Leaders with a Social Consciousness Conference in Mexico City. In January 2015, Ms. Landín received her law degree from Stanford Law School. She was involved with the Moot Court, the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project as a Policy Director, and the Guardianship Pro Bono Project. She also was awarded the John Hart Ely Prize for Outstanding Performance in Sentencing and Corrections and Pro Bono Distinction.

In 2015, Ms. Landín started work as a misdemeanor attorney at this Office, winning one jury trial every month, for her first three months on the job.

“She is known on the Misdemeanor Team as ‘The Hurricane’ because a public defender asked Bobby Philbrook who was replacing him last summer. He answered that ‘a storm was coming - Hurricane Landín,’” Supervising Deputy District Attorney Jim Leonard said. “The name stuck. She is the most pleasant hurricane you'll meet.”

Ms. Landín was an honors law clerk with this Office in 2014 and again until she was hired in 2015. She appeared in court for preliminary hearings and to argue motions, including motions in limine for a gang-related homicide case.

In 2013, she worked as a summer associate for Farella Braun + Martell LLP. She worked under Co-Director Professor Robert Weisberg at the Stanford Criminal Justice Center as a research assistant. In 2012, Ms. Landín was a certified law intern with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office. She was a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representative with the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition in Washington DC from 2010 – 2011. She was also a paralegal/program coordinator for the Neighborhood Legal Services of L.A. County from 2009 – 2010, where she founded the Glendale Domestic Violence Task Force.

Her interests in law competed with her passion for the Cha Cha. Ms. Landín traveled to Russia to pursue her love for ballroom dance and to teach English. However, the lure of doing something for disadvantaged young people pulled her back toward a legal career.

It was her work with the Juvenile Division of the Public Defender’s Office that narrowed her legal focus. She was moved with empathy for the hardships of the defendants, but it was their victims on the other side of the courtroom that called to her conscience.

Jason A. Malinsky graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2003. While there, he competed on the Men’s Water Polo team from 1999 – 2003. Mr. Malinsky graduated from UC Berkeley, School of Law in 2008. As a law student, he was the articles editor for the Ecology Law Quarterly and worked in the public benefits unit of the East Bay Community Law Center. His work as a reporter – including a story profiling UC Berkeley’s death penalty clinic – has been published in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Oakland Tribune.

Since 2012, Mr. Malinsky has worked in Oakland as a deputy attorney general in the Environment Section of the California Attorney General’s Office. While there, he successfully prosecuted a wealthy East Bay developer for felony forgery, securing a $650,000 restitution payment and the permanent protection of over 100 acres of prime endangered species habitat. He also prosecuted businesses and individuals for polluting California’s air, land, and water.

Mr. Malinsky was an associate of Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Francisco from 2011 – 2012. While there, he litigated cases on behalf of some of the world’s largest companies and was part of a team that tried a case to jury in federal district court. He was a legal fellow for the Natural Resources Defense Council from 2009 – 2011 and clerked for then-Colorado Supreme Court Justice Gregory Hobbs from 2008 – 2009. Mr. Malinsky also worked as a freelance journalist from 2002 – 2004. His work included reporting on coastal environment issues for PBS/KQED and an investigation of safety and security issues at a national nuclear research laboratory that resulted in a federal investigation.

An All-American water polo player in high school, he was recruited to compete at Berkeley – then the nation’s most successful water polo program. Told early on by his coach that he would never make the team given his size and lack of speed, Mr. Malinsky became determined to succeed. He trained harder during the off-season. In his final two seasons, he proved his coach wrong and competed for the team that won a Pac-10 Championship and was a finalist in the NCAA National Championship.

“I never became the fastest swimmer or the team’s star. But I did earn the respect of my teammates and coach,” Mr. Malinsky said. “I also came to understand the importance of resilience in the face of failure and the hard work necessary to achieve the highest standards of excellence.”

Balancing his duties as a student-athlete, Mr. Malinsky launched what would become an 18-month investigation into large-scale pesticide poisonings in the Central Valley. The story sparked a suit that resulted in one of the state’s largest settlements for pesticide poisonings and kindled his interest in the law.

“The press’s ability to shine a light on injustice initially inspired me to become a journalist,” he said. “Experiencing the power of the law to aid victims and more directly protect the community motivated me to become a lawyer.”

Colleen F. McMahon graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1991. She graduated cum laude from the University of the Pacific, McGeorgeSchool of Law in 1997. While studying law, Ms. McMahon was on the Dean’s Honor List in 1995 and 1997. She became a member of the Traynor Society in 1997. In 1995, she was an International Moot Court Top Oralist Finalist and Honors Award recipient. She received the Adrian and Annabel McGeorge Academic Scholarship in 1994 and 1995.

Ms. McMahon worked at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office as a deputy district attorney since 1999. For five of those years, she was a member of the felony trial staff where she successfully prosecuted one vehicular homicide and eight murder cases. Last year, at the end of a long, complex and high profile case, she successfully prosecuted the murderer of Sandra Coke, a federal defense investigator. In June, Randy Alana was sentenced to 131 years to life.

Ms. McMahon was also the Misdemeanor Team supervisor for two years. Her most recent assignments have been as a charging deputy district attorney in Oakland, and with the

Preliminary Hearing Team where she conducted preliminary examinations of the most serious and complex murder and sexual assault cases in Hayward, San Leandro, and Castro Valley.

Ms. McMahon began her career at the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office in 1997 as a post-bar clerk. After she was admitted to the bar, she was assigned to their Misdemeanor Trial Team where she tried 17 jury trials that year. Ms. McMahon was a research analyst for Delta Protection Commission in Walnut Grove from 1993 – 1997. In 1997, she worked for Donahue, Wood, Loving and Vogel, as a law clerk, and for the Sonoma County DA’s as a certified law clerk. In 1995, Ms. McMahon worked as a law clerk for the California Attorney General’s Office in Sacramento. From 1992 – 1993, she was a public affairs consultant for GCA Group Political Consultants in San Francisco.

Ms. McMahon’s father was a San Francisco police officer and her mother was a social worker. Both of them – and her Catholic upbringing -emphasized to Ms. McMahon the deep value of public service.

In college, she gave a presentation in speech class about an unsolved murder – her dad’s idea. The speech sparked the idea to her that she could – one day - stand up in a courtroom, as a representative of the People.

“It’s exciting,” she said of trial work. “I love the courtroom theatrics and I never wanted to be stuck behind a desk,’’ she said. “I like helping people.”

Before family obligations took over, she was a marathoner – having completed the 26.2 mile distance in San Francisco, twice, and in Honolulu.

Brandon Mickle graduated from San Francisco State University in 2009. While there, a professor in the Criminal Justice Department looked out at the class, many from modest means or who were the first in their families to go to college – like Brandon. The professor told them: “You guys who grew up without a trust fund weren’t told you could become attorneys. But you can.’’

Heeding that advice, Mr. Mickle received his law degree in 2014 from Santa Clara University School of Law. While studying law, he won the school’s Pro Bono Service Award and was a Witkin Award winner for his statutory analysis. He went to Cuba as an exchange student to study law, where he learned that prosecutors and defense attorneys often worked in the same office, even the same cubicle and that a vast majority of serious trials lasted just hours. The exchange students were not allowed to ask about prisons.

Over the last three years, he has served as an intern, an honors post-bar clerk and a volunteer deputy district attorney for this Office. During his first stint with the Office his skills caught the eye of the Gang Unit Supervising Deputy District Attorney Lance Daugherty.

“Brandon demonstrated a natural insight into my case more consistent with a seasoned trial attorney than a first year intern,” SuDDA Daugherty said.

Previously, he worked as a sales operations analyst for MarketTool, Inc. in San Francisco and a legal process clerk for the city’s Department of Vital Records.

While at that city post, Mr. Mickle was intrigued with the prosecutors who would come into the office.

“There are some boring records, but the prosecutors were always excited about what they were looking for,” Mr. Mickle said. “It might be a birth certificate from 1974, but to them it was an intricate piece of the puzzle they had to have.’’

Mr. Mickle started to drop by the 850 Bryant Street courthouse to watch those prosecutors in trial. Soon thereafter, he took his professor's advice and went to law school. It was his dream to pursue a career as a prosecutor, and he is very grateful to now be a part of this office.

“I'm honored to be here, and I'm ready to get to work as a team player,” he said.

Michael H. Moreno graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 2009. He received his law degree from Pepperdine in 2015. While there he won two Cali Awards – Police Practice and Evidence - and worked as a member of the school’s Community Justice Clinic. The Cali Award is given to the student who receives the highest grade for that particular class. Mr. Moreno recalls the gratitude of a group of day laborers after he helped them understand their rights.

He served as an honors summer law clerk for this Office in 2014; and as an intern with our Homicide Unit. He worked homicide cases with Deputy District Attorney David Boyd and graffiti clean-ups with Community Prosecutor Johnny Gogo.

DDA Vishal Bathija said his experience with Mr. Moreno was impressive, noting his work ethic, analytical ability, writing skills, and courtroom demeanor.

“His ability to adapt in court was remarkable and his arguments were succinct and persuasive,” DDA Bathija said.

Previously, he worked as a law clerk for the Victim Impact Program of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Before that through his Campbell church, Mr. Moreno had gone on a number of service missions, including one to help build beds for orphans of the Rwandan genocide.

"There's a joy you get working for others that is far deeper than just working for money.” Mr. Moreno said.

Mr. Moreno was born and raised in Santa Clara. His grandfather was one of the first Hispanic attorneys in this county. His father was a prosecutor in this Office and he has long wanted to follow their professional footsteps.

He said: “This intimate connection with this community inspires me to excel as prosecutor, largely because I am serving my friends, my family, and the community that raised me.”

Demetricia Sampson graduated cum laude from San Jose State University in 2011. While there, she participated in the Mock Trial Program from 2009 – 2010 and Intramural Debate from 2008 – 2010. In 2009, she received the President’s Award for her 4.0 GPA. Ms. Sampson received her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2014. Ms. Sampson was the staff editor and writing competition coordinator for the Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal from 2012 – 2013. She was awarded the Best Oral Argument Award, Moot Court in 2012. In 2013, she received the CALI Award Highest Grade in Trial Advocacy, and an Advanced CA Legal Research Certificate.

Ms. Sampson began her career at this Office as a summer law clerk in 2012. She returned the following year as a 2L honors summer legal clerk. In 2014, Ms. Sampson was a post-bar honors law clerk. In 2015, she was a Post Bar Clerk until she became a volunteer attorney. As a volunteer attorney, she covered arraignment and pretrial calendars for two departments. She also wrote and argued the opposition to motions to suppress, dismiss and demurrer.

Ms. Sampson was a Certified Law Clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Francisco during the latter half of 2013. She reviewed police reports, physical evidence, and witness statements for the Misdemeanor Unit. She also determined which charges should be filed.

From 2010 - 2011, Ms. Sampson worked as a legal assistant at the Justice Corps’ Family Law Self Help Center assisting pro per litigants with legal information and preparing court documents for custody, guardianship, and landlord-tenant issues. She worked with teens and children with autism as an intervention specialist at Aspiranet from late 2010 – mid 2011. While there, she also counseled parents and caregivers on implementing home intervention goals to support her client’s behavioral progress.

Since her adolescence, Ms. Sampson has participated in programs that allowed her to edify, advocate, and mentor youth. From her involvement, Ms. Sampson taught young people to become leaders and paved the way for others to do so also. Ms. Sampson continues to work with youth as the director of the Youth Ministry at her church.

As a San Jose native, Ms. Sampson is driven to give back to her community. Ms. Sampson said, “being a prosecutor puts into action my dream of seeking justice and developing a community, my community, into a safer place.”

George Tran graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2008. Mr. Tran received his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2012. While there, he participated in the Criminal Practice Clinic and Civil Justice Clinic. Mr. Tran also reviewed and edited citations as part of the editorial staff of the Asian American Law Journal at the University of California, Berkeley.

After Mr. Tran’s first year at UC Hastings, he spent the summer of 2010 interning for Congressman Harry Teague of New Mexico in Washington, D.C. He also spent that summer in the Security Springboard program with the Truman National Security Project.

In January 2011, he was a law clerk for the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. He joined the San Francisco County District Attorney’s Office as a certified law clerk in the Preliminary Hearings Unit. By August 2012, he was a SFCDA post bar law fellow assigned to the Gang Violence Unit. Mr. Tran second-chaired a gang homicide trial with then-supervisor of the Gang Unit, Eric Fleming. He continued his career with that office as a volunteer ADA, conducting two trials in the Misdemeanor Unit.

In 2013, Mr. Tran joined the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office as a deputy district attorney in the Misdemeanor Unit. He conducted a total of 13 trials and five preliminary hearings that included robbery, vehicle theft, and weapons possessions. He also supervised and mentored law clerks though hearings and advised on strategy and legal theories. Mr. Tran had a short leave between March through July 2014 during which time he joined the Placer County District Attorney’s Office as a DDA, conducting two trials.

The son of Vietnamese refugees, Mr. Tran grew up in a hardscrabble neighborhood in Santa Ana. His desire to make a difference in the community dated back to the day someone fired a gun from the window of a car that was driving past him on his way home from school. Mr. Tran was not the intended target of the shooting, but he felt like he had narrowly escaped death. Mr. Tran pursued prosecution because he wanted safer streets, believing that no one should ever have to live in such fear.

“Safety is not a privilege, but a right,” Mr. Tran said. “I could have been a police officer, a prosecutor – anything to make a positive impact in the community.”

Another influence on him has been the Harry Potter series, with its overarching theme of making the right choices despite great sacrifice.

“We are capable of doing something magical in the world,” he said.

An admittedly obsessed fan, Mr. Tran said he once flew out and vacationed at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando by himself – at 28. He bought the early bird special, rode the rides, ate at the “Three Broomsticks,” and enjoyed every minute. He still has the wand and the glasses.

Colin Valencia graduated summa cum laude and with college honors from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2011. Mr. Valencia also played for the UCLA Men’s Rugby team, and was the team’s Scholar Athlete for the 2009-2010 academic year. He was also active in many community service programs at UCLA, including UCLA UniCamp, where he helped run the organization’s public service program. While at UCLA, he received the Irene Wilde, UCLA Academic Recognition and UC President’s Washington Scholarships. He also had a membership in Alpha Gamma Sigma and Golden Key Honor societies.

Mr. Valencia received his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 2015, and was recognized as a Berkeley Law Public Interest and Pro Bono Pledge Honoree. During his time at Boalt, Mr. Valencia participated in mock trial competitions, and was a member of the Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law.

In 2013, Mr. Valencia began his career at this Office as a summer law clerk. He returned as an honors law clerk in the summer of 2014 and as a post bar clerk in the Fall 2015.

Deputy District Attorney Quinn Nichols said: “I quickly saw Colin’s potential as an individual dedicated to the steadfast pursuit of a just outcome in every case he handled.”

In 2010, he worked as a legislative intern for Senator John Kerry, working with both the Foreign Relations Committee and Senate staff members.

Prior to enrolling at UCLA as an undergrad, Mr. Valencia worked as an Emergency Medical Technician in Los Angeles County. As an EMT, Mr. Valencia assisted the Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel and transported patients on 911 emergency responses from 2003 – 2006.He began his career in Carson, and finished his time stationed in West Hollywood.

Mr. Valencia grew up in the Highland Park neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles, and was raised by his mother, whom he credits for both his academic success and his commitment to public service.

When not working for the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Valencia enjoys following the mishaps of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and the UCLA Bruins.