Chesa Boudin

Chesa Boudin (born August 21, 1980) is an American lawyer, writer, and lecturer specializing in the U.S. criminal justice system. Since January 8, 2020, he has served as the 29th district attorney of San Francisco.

Chesa Boudin
29th District Attorney of San Francisco
Assumed office
January 8, 2020
Preceded bySuzy Loftus (interim)
Personal details
Born (1980-08-21) August 21, 1980
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Valerie Block
MotherKathy Boudin
FatherDavid Gilbert
RelativesBill Ayers (adoptive father)
Bernardine Dohrn (adoptive mother)
EducationYale University (BA, JD)
St Antony's College, Oxford (MS, MPhil)
[1][2][3]

Early life and education

Boudin was born in New York City to Jewish parents.[4] His parents, Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert, were Weather Underground members.[5]

When Boudin was 14 months old, his parents were arrested for murder in their role as getaway car drivers in the Brink's robbery of 1981 in Rockland County, New York.[4][6] His mother was sentenced to 20 years to life[7] and his father to 75 years to life for the felony murders of two police officers and a security guard.[8] After his parents were incarcerated, Boudin was raised in Chicago by adoptive parents Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, who, like his parents, had been members of the Weather Underground.[9] Boudin reports that he did not learn to read until age 9.[10] Kathy Boudin was released under parole supervision in 2003.[6][11]

Boudin descends from a long left-wing lineage. His great-great-uncle, Louis B. Boudin,[12] was a Marxist theoretician and author of a two-volume history of the Supreme Court's influence on American government, and his grandfather Leonard Boudin was an attorney who represented controversial clients such as Fidel Castro and Paul Robeson.[13] Boudin is also related to Michael Boudin,[12] a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and Isidor Feinstein Stone, an independent journalist.[12][14]

Boudin entered St Antony's College, Oxford, on a Rhodes Scholarship in 2003.[5] At Oxford, he earned two master's degrees, one in forced migration and the other in public policy in Latin America. He earned his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2011[15] and began work for the San Francisco Public Defender's Office as a post-doctoral fellow in 2012.[6]

Career

Before law school, Boudin traveled to Venezuela and served as a translator in the administration of then-president Hugo Chávez.[16]

After law school, from 2011 to 2012, Boudin served as a law clerk to M. Margaret McKeown on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.[17] He was a 2012–2013 Liman Fellow at the San Francisco Public Defender's Office,[18] and in 2013 and 2014, he served as a clerk to Charles Breyer on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.[19] In 2015, Boudin began working full time at the San Francisco Public Defender's Office as a deputy public defender.[20] While there, he argued on behalf of the office's clients that California's bail system is unconstitutional, leading to the landmark decision In re Kenneth Humphrey, in which the state's First District Court of Appeals held that judges must give consideration to a defendant's ability to pay before setting bail.[21]

Boudin also serves on the board of the Civil Rights Corps,[22] a national non-profit organization, and is on the board of Restore Justice, a non-profit based in California.[23]

Boudin translated Understanding the Bolivarian Revolution: Hugo Chávez Speaks with Marta Harnecker into English,[24][25] co-edited Letters from Young Activists: Today's Young Rebels Speak Out,[26] and co-wrote The Venezuelan Revolution: 100 Questions – 100 Answers.[27] His latest book, Gringo: A Coming of Age in Latin America, was released in April 2009 by Charles Scribner's Sons.[28] The book received mixed reviews.[29][30][31]

District Attorney of San Francisco

2019 election
Main article: 2019 San Francisco District Attorney election

In the 2019 election, Boudin was elected San Francisco District Attorney, defeating interim district attorney Suzy Loftus.[32][33] Boudin campaigned for the office on a decarceration platform of eliminating cash bail, establishing a unit to re-evaluate wrongful convictions and refusing to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with raids and arrests.[34] The San Francisco Police Officers Association and other law enforcement groups spent $650,000 in an unsuccessful effort to defeat Boudin.[35] Attorney General William Barr criticized Boudin and like-minded DA's, accusing them of undermining the police, letting criminals off the hook and endangering public safety.[36] In an interview during the COVID-19 pandemic, Boudin questioned whether the nation "can safely continue the national system of mass incarceration. Why do we need to take people to jail for non-violent offenses if what they really need is drug treatment or mental health services?"[34]

Tenure

On January 8, 2020, Boudin was sworn in as San Francisco district attorney by San Francisco mayor London Breed.[37][38]

On January 10, two days after being sworn in, Boudin fired six prosecutors.[39]

On January 14, Boudin announced the first implementation of a primary caregiver diversion program authorized by SB394.[40]

On January 22, he fulfilled a key campaign promise by eliminating cash bail and replacing it with a "risk-based system," in which prosecutors evaluate whether or not a defendant poses a threat to public safety as a condition for their pretrial release. John Raphling, a senior researcher at the Human Rights Watch, praised the decision, stating that bail and pretrial incarceration has been used "as leverage to pressure people to plead guilty regardless of actual guilt." Conversely, Tony Montoya, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, condemned the decision by claiming that the risk-based system is an "arbitrary math equation" and that the change would create a "criminal justice revolving door".[41]

On January 26, Boudin suspended the process of prosecuting Jamaica Hampton, a man who was shot and seriously injured in an altercation with police, during which he was captured in body camera footage striking an officer with a liquor bottle, in San Francisco's Mission District. This was characterized in some press reports as "dropping charges", however Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the DA's office, stated that charges had not yet been filed. The DA's office would therefore retain the right to resume the prosecution at a later time. The decision to suspend the process in January was made in order to avoid a conflict between the prosecution of Hampton, and the investigation and potential prosecution of the officer, who may potentially be charged for the shooting. The police union, which opposed Boudin's election, criticized the decision as "giving criminals a green light" to attack police officers.[42]

On February 28, Boudin announced his office would no longer seek charges for contraband found during “pretextual” traffic stops and would not charge status enhancements that increase jail sentences, such as those imposed for gang membership or for having three strikes. He explained that extensive, empirical evidence demonstrated the ineffectiveness of those policies and discrimination against marginalized communities.[43]

On April 9, Boudin announced that his office secured temporary housing units for survivors of domestic violence.[44]

On April 21, Boudin established an Economic Crimes Unit to protect worker's rights.[45] On July 16, that unit filed an employee protection action against DoorDash alleging the company has and continues to illegally classify its delivery workers as independent contractors.[46]

On June 1, Boudin called on the State Bar to create a new ethics rule to end the conflict of interest between prosecutors and police unions.[47]

On June 2, Boudin partnered with Supervisor Shamann Walton to announce a resolution prohibiting the hiring of law enforcement officers with prior findings of misconduct.[48] The resolution was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on June 23.[49]

On June 5, as part of a series of reforms targeted at holding police accountable, Boudin announced a new policy requiring prosecutors to review all available evidence before charging any cases involving allegations of resisting or obstructing police officers or committing an assault on officers.[50]

On June 15, Boudin announced a policy directive to prevent the charging and prosecution of cases relying upon the word of officers who have previously been found to have committed serious misconduct.

On June 18, Boudin and three other district attorneys called on the California Victims' Compensation Board to provide victim compensation to victims and witnesses of police violence.[51]

On July 1, Boudin joined a grassroots law project to announce the formation of a local "Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission."[52]

Personal life

Boudin lives in the Outer Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco with his wife Valerie Block, a post-doctoral researcher at University of California, San Francisco.[6]

Publications

Books
  • "Chapter 1: Letters to Our Parents," In: Berger, Dan; Boudin, Chesa; Farrow, Kenyon (eds.). Letters from Young Activists. Today's Rebels Speak Out. Nation Books, 2005, pp. 3–8. ISBN 978-1-56025-747-9.
  • The Venezuelan Revolution: 100 Questions-100 Answers. Chesa Boudin (ed.), Gabriel González (ed.), Wilmer Rumbos (ed.). Basic Books, 2006. ISBN 978-1-5602-5773-8
  • Gringo. A Coming-of-Age in Latin America. Chesa Boudin; paperback ed. Scribner, 2009. ISBN 978-1-4165-5912-2

Articles
  • "Steps to Family Forgiveness." Chesa Boudin. Fellowship 70 (2004): 18.
  • "Strategic Options for Development of a Worker Center." Chesa Boudin and Rebecca Scholtz. Harvard Latino Law Review 13 (2010): 91-126.
  • "Institutional Design and International Electoral Observers: Kicking the Habit." Northwestern Interdisciplinary Law Review 39 (2010): 39.
  • "Publius and the Petition: Doe v. Reed and the History of Anonymous Speech." Chesa Boudin. The Yale Law Review 120 (2011): 2140-2181.
  • "Children of Incarcerated Parents: The Child's Constitutional Right to the Family Relationship." Chesa Boudin. The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology 101 (2011): 77-118.
  • "Prison visitation policies: A fifty-state survey." Chesa Boudin, Trevor Stutz, Aaron Littman. Yale Law & Policy Review 32 (2013): 149-189.
  • "The impact of overbooking on a pre-trial risk assessment tool." Kristian Lum, Chesa Boudin, Megan Price (2020).

References
  1. FEINSTEIN, JESSICA (September 18, 2003). "Boudin '03 greets mother after 22 years". Yale Daily News. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  2. "Former Liman Fellow Chesa Boudin '11 Sworn in as District Attorney of San Francisco". Yale Law School. January 8, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  3. "News & Media". Refugee Studies Centre. November 12, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2020. “We would like to congratulate RSC alum Chesa Boudin (MSc in Forced Migration 2003-2004)”
  4. Heyman, J.D. (December 23, 2002). "Free Thinker". People Magazine. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  5. Wilgoren, Jodi (December 9, 2002). "From a Radical Background, A Rhodes Scholar Emerges". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  6. Evan Sernoffsky (January 15, 2019). "Chesa Boudin, son of imprisoned radicals, looks to become SF district attorney". San Francisco Chronicle.
  7. "Judge Says Kathy Boudin Will Get 20-Years-to-Life". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. April 27, 1984. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  8. Evans, Colin (2002). "Weatherman Brinks Trials: 1983". Great American Trials. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  9. Paul, Deanna (November 2, 2019). "After decades visiting his parents in prison, this lawyer wants to be San Francisco's next DA". Washington Post. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  10. Sotomayor, Sonia (January 9, 2020). Congratulatory message played at Boudin inauguration (Video). Herbst Theatre, San Francisco: Chesa Boudin. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  11. Foderaro, Lisa (September 18, 2003). "With Bouquet and A Wave, Boudin is Free 22 Years Later". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  12. Margolick, David (April 24, 1992). "An Unusual Court Nominee, N.Y. Times (April 24, 1992)". The New York Times.
  13. Powers, Thomas (November 2, 2003). "Underground Woman". The New York Times. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  14. "American Radical: The Life and Times of I.F. Stone". Democracy Now!. June 18, 2009. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2013. ...by his brother-in-law Leonard Boudin, who forced the State Department...
  15. "Delegates". University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  16. Gonzales, Richard (April 26, 2009). "'Gringo,' by Chesa Boudin". SFGate. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  17. "Biographies for the Recipients of YLS Fellowships and Fellowships Sponsored by Other Institutions" (PDF). Yale Law School. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  18. "Hope, Illusion, and Imagination: The Politics of Parole and Reentry in the Era of Mass Incarceration (Panel Presentation)" (PDF). The Rose Sheinberg Scholar-in-Residence Program. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  19. Blackwell, Savannah (May 14, 2014). "Criminal Injustice". Fog City Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  20. Epstien, Ken (April 4, 2019). "Boudin Runs for District Attorney". Post News Group. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  21. "S.F. Man Whose Case Upended California's Bail System Wins Release". KQED. May 4, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  22. "Our Board". Civil Rights Corps. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  23. Arango, Tim (May 24, 2019). "Dad's in Prison, Mom Was on Parole. Their Son Is Now Running for D.A." The New York Times. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  24. Koblin, John (March 25, 2018). "Apple Goes to Hollywood. Will Its Story Have a Happy Ending?". The New York Times.
  25. Hugo Chávez; Marta Harnecker (2005). "Understanding the Venezuelan Revolution". Monthly Review. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  26. "Letters from Young Activists". Nation Books. 2005. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008.
  27. "The Venezuelan Revolution: 100 Questions — 100 Answers". Thunder's Mouth Press. 2006. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  28. "Simon and Schuster listing". Simonsays.com. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  29. Garner, Dwight (April 16, 2009). "New York Times' review". Nytimes.com. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  30. "Washington Post review". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  31. Richard Gonzales, Special to The Chronicle (April 26, 2009). "San Francisco Chronicle Review". Sfgate.com. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  32. Robertson, Michelle. "Chesa Boudin wins San Francisco D.A. election". SFGate. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  33. Johnson, Lizzie. "Chesa Boudin, reformer public defender, wins election as San Francisco's new DA". SFChronicle.com. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  34. Simon, Morgan. "San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin Says COVID-19 Won't End Without Criminal Justice Reform". Forbes. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  35. "SF police union attacks DA candidate with hundreds of thousands in mailers, TV ads". The San Francisco Examiner. October 30, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  36. Smith, Allan (December 16, 2019). "Parents guilty of murder and raised by radicals, Chesa Boudin is San Francisco's next DA". NBC News. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  37. https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/San-Francisco-leaders-and-a-Supreme-Court-14960985.php
  38. "City's new progressive DA Chesa Boudin takes office, vows to immediately change the system". The San Francisco Examiner. January 8, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  39. "Chesa Boudin Lets Go Of At Least Six Prosecutors, Two Days After Being Sworn In". SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports. January 11, 2020. Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  40. "San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin Announces Primary Caregiver Diversion Program | District Attorney". sfdistrictattorney.org. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  41. Sernoffsky, Evan (January 22, 2020). "San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin ends cash bail for all criminal cases". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  42. Fimrite, Peter (January 27, 2020). "Boudin, SF's DA, withdraws charges against man who allegedly attacked cop". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  43. Johnson, MJ (February 28, 2020). "DA Boudin to stop charging for contraband at traffic stops, gang enhancements". The San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  44. "District Attorney Boudin Teams Up with Mayor Breed to Announce Temporary Housing for Survivors of Domestic Violence | District Attorney". sfdistrictattorney.org. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  45. "District Attorney Launches New Economic Crimes Unit to Protect Workers' Rights | District Attorney". sfdistrictattorney.org. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  46. "SFDA Chesa Boudin Announces Employee Protection and Unfair Business Practices Action Against Doordash for Illegally Misclassifying Its Delivery Workers | District Attorney". sfdistrictattorney.org. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  47. "DA Boudin and Law Enforcement Leaders Call on State Bar to Create New Ethics Rule to End the Conflict of Interest Between Prosecutors and Police Unions | District Attorney". sfdistrictattorney.org. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  48. "District Attorney Boudin and Supervisor Shamann Walton Announce a Resolution to Prohibit the Hiring of Law Enforcement Officers with Prior Findings of Misconduct | District Attorney". sfdistrictattorney.org. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  49. "City and County of San Francisco - File #: 200592". sfgov.legistar.com. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  50. "District Attorney Boudin Announces New Appointment and New Policy Designed to Protect the Public From Police Misconduct and Abuse | District Attorney". sfdistrictattorney.org. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  51. "District Attorney Boudin and Three Other District Attorneys Call on the California Victims' Compensation Board to Provide Victim Compensation to Victims and Witnesses of Police Violence | District Attorney". sfdistrictattorney.org. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  52. "District Attorney Boudin Joins Grassroots Law Project and Leading Reform District Attorneys to Announce Truth, Justice & Reconciliation Commissions to Address Decades of Harm Caused by Law Enforcement and Prosecutorial Overreach | District Attorney". sfdistrictattorney.org. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Suzy Loftus		 District Attorney of San Francisco
Taking office January 8, 2020		 Incumbent
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