Valley Deputy D.A. Is Honored

VAN NUYS — Deputy Dist. Atty. Shellie Samuels has been named prosecutor of the year, making her the first woman and the first San Fernando Valley prosecutor to win the award, officials announced Friday.

Citing Samuels’ ability “to see that justice is done for the accused and for the community,” the Los Angeles County Assn. of Deputy District Attorneys chose to honor the Van Nuys prosecutor for her work in the Hardcore Gang Division, said Paul Pfau, president of the group.

“This is definitely the high point of, if not my life, then certainly of my career,” Samuels said.

Colleagues in the criminal justice system expressed praise for Samuels’ work.

“She exemplifies the type of deputy D.A. with the perseverance necessary to try some of our most difficult cases,” Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti said.

Garcetti, Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor, said Samuels has an “extraordinary ability” to obtain convictions in difficult cases.

Garcetti cited Samuels’ work on her most recent case, which led to the conviction of a North Hollywood man who killed the only person to die in the San Fernando Valley as a result of last year’s riots.

“That was a tough case,” Garcetti said. “Number 1, she filed the case against him. A number of lawyers would have said ‘you’re reaching.’ She properly and fairly got a just verdict.”

“Shellie is my hero,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert L. Cohen, who has prosecuted cases for 22 years and is now a senior deputy at the Van Nuys branch. “I have been greatly impressed by her professionalism, enthusiasm and her concern over victims and getting these predators off the streets.”

Samuels, a 39-year-old Woodland Hills resident, began working for the district attorney’s office as a certified law clerk while still attending Loyola Law School. After graduating and passing the bar examination in 1984, Samuels was sworn into the largest prosecutorial agency in the world.

She prosecuted her first felony case in November, 1985. Samuels went to work for the Hardcore Gang Division 5 1/2 years ago and has been based in Van Nuys five years.

Known for her ability to withstand the pressure of back-to-back trials, Samuels has prosecuted 27 murder cases, receiving 17 first-degree murder convictions.

This year, Samuels has tried four special-circumstance murder cases, sending three men to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A fourth defendant is waiting for a judge to formally sentence him to death.

Colleagues cited Samuels’ upbeat nature, which they said is surprising considering her workload and the serious felony cases she typically handles.

“She maintains an even keel under the rigors of courtroom combat,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Ronald H. (Mike) Carroll, head of the Van Nuys office.

Judge Sandy Kriegler, who supervises the criminal departments in Van Nuys Superior Court, said Samuels has “an outstanding reputation among all the judges. She’s a tireless worker. She does one case after another, and all the judges agree that she’s always prepared.”

Samuels said she would be happy to continue prosecuting gang members at her present office. “The most gratifying part is the fact that the Van Nuys people, the people that I work with, that know me, are the ones that nominated me,” she said.

After being selected from a list of 12 finalists taken from the 900 members of the district attorney’s office, Samuels will formally receive the prosecutor of the year award at a Nov. 10 dinner.