Advocates Press CA DOJ to Investigate Racism in
OCDA’s Office

A coalition of civil rights advocates, including the Peace and Justice Law Center (PJLC), met with officials from the California Department of Justice to press for an investigation into racism within the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The meeting followed the release of a damning report by the ACLU of Southern California and multiple news accounts documenting racist statements and practices by OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

Advocates described a long-standing pattern of discriminatory prosecution practices, particularly in cases involving gang allegations and the enforcement of the California Racial Justice Act. PJLC shared firsthand accounts from its litigation and advocacy work showing how the OCDA has resisted reforms intended to curb racial bias and has continued to disproportionately target people of color.

The meeting was part of a broader strategy to seek accountability at the state level when local remedies have failed. By bringing community voices and documented evidence directly to the DOJ, advocates aimed to underscore that the problem is systemic, not isolated, and that meaningful oversight is necessary to restore public trust.

PJLC will continue to work alongside community partners and statewide allies to monitor the DOJ’s response and to push for concrete action to address racial discrimination in Orange County’s criminal legal system. This advocacy builds on PJLC’s ongoing efforts to enforce the Racial Justice Act and to challenge practices that undermine fairness and equal treatment under the law.