Dallas County DA loses reelection bid
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A former state district judge is on track to become Dallas County's next district attorney after pulling off an upset against incumbent John Creuzot.
Why it matters: The district attorney is the county's top prosecutor, often managing high-profile cases while overseeing hundreds of employees.
Driving the news: Creuzot, who has been the district attorney since 2019, conceded to former district judge Amber Givens Wednesday in the Democratic primary, clearing the way for her to take his position after the November general election.
- There were no Republican candidates.
State of play: Givens advocated for diversion programs and community justice councils during her campaign for DA. Her supporters included Christopher Scott, who spent 12 years in prison before being exonerated in a 1997 murder case.
- "Justice must be transparent enough for the public to trust it," her campaign website says.
Yes, but: Givens' judicial term was contentious. She was reprimanded last year for letting a staff member stand in for her during a court proceeding in 2021 and treating attorneys poorly in her courtroom, allegations that she has denied and appealed.
The other side: Creuzot's loss has baffled many of his supporters. The former district judge served as Dallas County's DA for two terms and recently joined a coalition calling on the federal government to "fully investigate" agents suspected of killing someone without justification.
- But, Creuzot's office also faced pushback in the case of a Coppell man whose family blamed his girlfriend for his death. The 2014 death was initially listed as a homicide but authorities never pursued criminal charges and didn't publicly explain why not.
What they're saying: "While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, I am proud of the work my team accomplished and the important conversations we advanced about justice, accountability and public safety in Dallas County," Creuzot said in a statement.
What we're watching: Whether Givens' win will fuel attrition at the DA's office.