Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 05/03/07

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

PROSECUTORS WITH EXPERIENCE JOIN DA STAFF

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that three prosecutors with extensive experience in the criminal justice system joined his staff during the month of April.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, "I’m pleased to announce the hiring of these talented lawyers."

Deputy District Attorney Victoria Shanahan received her Bachelor of Arts from Sonoma State University in Environmental Studies and earned her law degree from Empire Law School. During law school, she served as a law clerk in this office. Most recently, she was the chief deputy district attorney in the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office. Ms. Shanahan brings a wealth of trial experience to the office.

Deputy District Attorney Robin Hammond received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Music from the University of Montana and earned her law degree from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to joining our office, she was a deputy federal defender in Montana. At the federal level, she served as a trial and appellate attorney. Recently, she was employed as a deputy public defender in Mendocino County.

Finally, Deputy District Attorney Kari Buis received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and History from Indiana University and earned her law degree from Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Buis was a probation officer for Monroe County Probation Department in the state of Indiana.

All three prosecutors will be assigned to trial departments.