Starting as a restaurant server, Summer Stephan has worked her way to being an elected District Attorney. Even though her 29-year legal journey has been filled with trials and obstacles, she has always kept what is important—such as her family and community—in mind.
As a 12-year-old girl, Summer Stephan knew she wanted to enter the legal field. After reading an article about the treatment of women in Yemen, her motivation to become a district attorney was ignited. Stephan started her legal career in the district attorney’s office in 1990—a time when female prosecutors were few and far between.
Since then, Stephan has established the first Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division, which served as an example for all DA offices. Moreover, she has hired about 300 prosecutors who bring in 40,000 cases yearly, making her DA office the second-largest in California.
Stephan attributes her success to her hardworking team. She articulated how their hard work and dedication to the cause has allowed her to be in her current position. Moreover, she also attributes her success to motherhood. Motherhood enables her to look at each victim she encounters as a family member, making sure she gives the utmost care to each and every individual.
As elected District Attorney, Stephan has many issues she wants to address. With regard to public safety, Stephan is determined to prevent human trafficking. Given her success with the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division, her passion for the issue has been remarkable. She wants to implement more resources for the victims but also promote education programs to increase awareness about the issue.
In terms of domestic violence, Stephan wants to increase the awareness of strangulation due to the homicidal tendencies that typically follow. To deal with school shootings, Stephan intends to focus more on education techniques that highlight the common indicators seen in school shooters.
For Summer Stephan, being District Attorney is about pursuing liberty and justice for all. Whether it’s through education, prosecution, or crime prevention, Stephan is driven and passionate about defending the people of San Diego and making the community as safe as possible.
