I am a Seattle area native, a graduate of Highline High School and the University of Washington undergraduate and law school.
Dad was a general practice lawyer serving the diverse community of White Center for 35 years while serving his country as an Air Force reservist. Mom was a nurse and taught in the school of nursing at Highline Community College for many years. I was the well-adjusted middle child between two sisters living a Northwest childhood on my grandparents’ Wenatchee fruit orchard and spending summers on Dad’s beloved cabin cruiser.
In 1985 I joined the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in the Criminal Division and spent the next five years trying all types of cases. Norm Maleng asked me to be the office gang prosecutor in 1988, and two years later when Chief of Staff Bob Lasnik became a Superior Court judge, Norm asked me to fill that role. I was just 30 years old when I began a wonderful 17-year stint as Norm’s right-hand man. I learned most of what I know about the law and life from Norm. He was as warm and wise in private as his public reputation suggests.
When Norm died suddenly in May 2007, I ran to succeed him and lead the office. We are a big office, with 230 attorneys and 250 staff. We handle 25,000 criminal cases a year and also provide legal counsel to all parts of King County government. It is a great job with no dull moments, even when we might wish for one.
I met Linda Norman in law school on Orientation Day and we married right after the Bar exam. We have two wonderful children, James and Katie. Among the many activities we enjoy is our nine-piece classic rock dance-party band, The Approximations.
I am fortunate to be surrounded by a team of talented and dedicated deputy prosecutors and professional staff. Together we have built one of the finest prosecuting attorney’s offices in the nation. To continue to lead our office in service of justice is my greatest professional honor. Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, or an invitation to speak to your organization, please shoot me a message.
Thank you!
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Dan Satterberg
3 weeks ago
It's time for prosecutors in our country to rethink the traditional role of the prosecutor and look at new ways we can partner with defense attorneys, community leaders, and service providers in our regions to make our communities safer.
I recently co-authored a memo with Ronald Wright, a law professor at Wake Forest University, that outlined specific strategies we should put into practice to transform the criminal justice system.
You can read the full report here: thecrimereport.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IIP-Community_Trust-paper.pdf ... See MoreSee Less
Memo to the Nation’s Newest Prosecutors: Restore Your Community’s Trust
thecrimereport.org
Only a major overhaul of prosecutors’ traditional practices can remove the long-festering distrust and racism that have alienated many American from the justice system and created a “public safety...Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google PlusShare on Linked InShare by Email
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Nice work Dan Satterberg! I enjoyed the read.
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Dan SatterbergFollow2311,649
I'll be your prosecutor and so much more!
I appreciate the retweet by one of the true icons of criminal justice ethics @JTravis48 Our profession has much work to do to build community trust, but also many great new DA’s in America who aspire to do just that.
Gun violence is highly concentrated among young people and communities of color. Data helps us identify where to focus community-led intervention efforts to prevent more violence. We have much work ahead.