Biography


District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni Biography

Ms. Pacioni received her Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University. After receiving her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of San Diego, School of Law in 1990, she became licensed to practice law in the states of California and Arizona. In 1990, she
worked as a Deputy District Attorney for the Kern County District Attorney’s Office and in 1992 she joined the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.

After resigning in 2001, she returned after an 8-year sabbatical during which time she served as a Grand Juror of the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury, and as President of the Junior League of Monterey County. In 2012, she joined the National Charity League of Monterey Bay, of which she served on their Board of Directors. During 2015-2021, she was a Board Member of the Monterey Rape Crisis Center.

Ms. Pacioni previously served as an elected Board Member of the California District Attorney Association and will resume this position in October 2021. Currently, she serves as a Board Member of the Monterey County Children’s Council, Child Abuse Prevention Council, Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and is the founding member of the Monterey County Multi-Cultural Community Council. She is also a member of the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace, Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault Response Team, Monterey County Bar Association, National District Attorneys Association and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

Ms. Pacioni has devoted her entire legal career to the pursuit of justice while handling virtually every type of criminal case prosecuted in Monterey County. For 20 years as a prosecutor, she has tenaciously represented victims of crime in numerous high-profile cases involving murder, gang crimes, vehicular manslaughter, assault, robbery, child molestation, adult sexual assault, and elder abuse.

On November 21, 2019, Ms. Pacioni was recognized by the Monterey County Women Lawyers Association as the 2019 recipient of the Lady Justice Lifetime Achievement Award for Legal Advocacy and Community Service.

In 2019, she was elected and became the first female District Attorney in Monterey County.

When Jeannine Pacioni speaks about Justice, here is what she believes that it stands for:

Professional Memberships

National District Attorneys Association

California District Attorneys Association

Child Abuse Prevention Council (Alternate for District Attorney)

Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Steering Committee

Children’s Council of Monterey County (District Attorney’s Designee)

Monterey County Peace Officers’ Association

Monterey County Prosecutor’s Association

California State Bar Association

 

Community Service Organizations

Rotary Club of Salinas (2015-present)

National Charity League of Monterey Bay (2011-present)

California Rodeo Salinas (2016-present)

 

Boards

California District Attorneys Association, Board of Directors (2016- present)

Monterey County Rape Crisis Center Board of Trustees   (2014-present)

Junior League of Monterey County, Board President (2008-2009), Member since 1993)

National Charity League, Board of Directors (2012 -2017)

 

Awards and Honors

TEDx Speaker, 2014 – A Passion for Justice

Award of Excellence, 2010 – Monterey County Peace Officers’ Association

Monterey County Team Service Award – 1999

 

Education

Northern Arizona University (1987) Bachelor of Science

University of San Diego School of Law (1990) Juris Doctorate

 

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