Rafu Staff Report
Los Angeles County District Attorney-elect Jackie Lacey on Monday announced her executive management team, which will include Sharon J. Matsumoto.
Lacey, who is currently chief deputy district attorney, defeated Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson in the Nov. 6 runoff to become the county’s first female and first African American chief prosecutor. She takes office on Dec. 3, succeeding Steve Cooley, who had endorsed her.
Currently assistant district attorney for administration, Matsumoto will take Lacey’s place as chief deputy DA, which means that the top two jobs at the District Attorney’s Office will be held by women for the first time.
Since 1998, when she was promoted by District Attorney Gil Garcetti, Matsumoto has been in charge of administration. Taking her place will be Pamela Booth, currently director of central operations.
Matsumoto oversees all administrative services for an office of approximately 2,200 staff and for all legal units that support the entire department. She is responsible for a budget of over $350 million. Units supervised include the Bureau of Administrative Services, Bureau of Prosecution Support Operations, Victim-Witness Assistance Program, and Bureau of Community Relations.
She has served in various posts since joining the District Attorney’s Office in 1984, including trial deputy, deputy in charge of the Psychiatric Section and the Glendale Area Office, recruiting attorney, special assistant to the assistant district attorney, and assistant director of the Bureau of Management and Budget.
Her parents, Akie and John H. Matsumoto, met while interned at the Amache camp in Colorado. Her father was one of only five Nisei known to have served with the Army Air Corps during World War II. He flew missions as an aerial gunner in Europe while his family was incarcerated.
Matsumoto earned her undergraduate degree in English and American studies at UCLA in 1972 and her law degree at University of San Fernando Valley College of Law in 1978. She was admitted to the California State Bar in 1979.
She serves as vice chair of the Constitutional Rights Foundation, a member of the Chancery Club and the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and a judge for the Constitutional Rights Foundation Mock Trial Competition for middle school and high school students.
Matsumoto was named Attorney of the Year by the Constitutional Rights Foundation and Los Angeles County Bar Association in 1989 and one of 10 Women of the Year by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women in 2000.
She is married to Ron Rose, a former deputy public defender who became a Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner in 2000 and was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2008.
Her brother, Terry Matsumoto, is chief financial officer with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and her sister-in-law, Jane Matsumoto, recently retired from the MTA.
“I am proud to announce the selection of the members of our executive management staff, and look forward to working with them and all of you to fulfill the mission of our department,” Lacey said. “My appointments include current career prosecutors and some members from the administration of District Attorney Steve Cooley, and are effective Monday, Dec. 3 … This is an exciting time, and I look forward to working with all of you.”