Jeff Reisig Archives - Davis Vanguard

Judge: Riesig’s ‘Pack of Wolves’ Remark Violated Racial Justice Act

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 15, 20260 comments

Yolo County Superior Court Judge Daniel P. Maguire ruled that a prosecutor violated California’s Racial Justice Act during Maurice Cook Jr.’s 2003 murder trial. The judge determined that the prosecution’s comparison of Cook and his co-defendants to ‘a pack of wolves’ constituted racially discriminatory language under Penal Code section 745, particularly when amplified by the frequent use of a racial slur. A remedies hearing has been scheduled to ascertain whether this violation affected Cook’s judgment.

Melinda Aiello, Long Time Yolo Prosecutor, Becomes First Woman Yolo County District Attorney

By Robert JHansenJune 24, 20262 comments

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors appointed Melinda Aiello as District Attorney, opting for continuity within the office over calls for external reform. The selection makes Aiello the first woman to serve in the county’s top prosecutorial role.

Yolo Supervisors to Interview Three Candidates for District Attorney Appointment

By David M. GreenwaldJune 22, 202610 comments

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to interview three candidates Tuesday for the appointment of a new District Attorney, who will serve the unexpired term of former District Attorney Jeff Reisig through January 2029.

Yolo Supervisors Lean toward Melinda Aiello as Next DA but Opt for Public Appointment Process

By David M. GreenwaldMay 27, 20260 comments

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors appeared to favor the appointment of Acting District Attorney Melinda Aiello to complete the remainder of former District Attorney Jeff Reisig’s term; however, the board ultimately resolved to implement a shortened public appointment process, with interviews slated for June 23.

Monday Morning Commentary: Should Yolo County Choose Continuity at the DA’s Office?

By David M. GreenwaldMay 25, 20261 comments

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to determine the succession process for District Attorney Jeff Reisig on Tuesday. County staff presented two primary options: the direct appointment of Chief Deputy District Attorney Melinda Aiello to the permanent role, or the initiation of an abbreviated recruitment process to consider additional candidates.

Yolo Supervisors to Decide Process for Appointing New District Attorney after Reisig Retirement

By David M. GreenwaldMay 22, 20265 comments

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors is determining the process for filling the District Attorney vacancy following the May 15, 2026, retirement of Jeff Reisig, with Chief Deputy District Attorney Melinda Aiello currently serving as Acting District Attorney. County staff confirmed that state law and a formal California Attorney General opinion mandate Board appointment for the remainder of the term, which extends through January 8, 2029, rather than a special election. The Board is considering two primary approaches: either appointing Aiello to ensure leadership continuity or initiating an abbreviated recruitment process to evaluate additional candidates for the position.

Breaking News: Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig Announces Retirement Effective May 15

By David M. GreenwaldMay 6, 20263 comments

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced his retirement effective May 15, 2026, after serving nearly five terms as the county’s top prosecutor since 2006.

Yolo County DA Announces Indictments in Deadly Fireworks Explosion Case

By David M. GreenwaldApril 11, 20260 comments

Seven individuals have been indicted on charges of second-degree murder and other crimes related to a deadly explosion in Esparto last summer, which prosecutors say was caused by a long-running illegal fireworks operation.

Inside the Effort to Remove Racial Covenants from Yolo County’s Property Records

By David M. GreenwaldMarch 5, 20260 comments

Yolo County Assessor-Clerk/Recorder Jesse Salinas discovered racially restrictive covenants in property records and worked with Assemblymember Kevin McCarty to pass legislation to remove the language and waive fees, while also digitizing the records to preserve them and make them searchable.

After DA Criticizes Court Dismissals, Deeper Look Reveals Complex Causes Behind Yolo’s Courtroom Crunch

By David M. GreenwaldFebruary 21, 20260 comments

Judge Tom Dyer dismissed two misdemeanor cases due to a lack of sufficient judges and courtrooms, resulting in a denial of justice to the victims and a waste of resources, according to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office.

New Data Undercuts Claims Behind Expanding Pretrial Detention, Shows 92% Court Return Rate without Cash Bail

By David M. GreenwaldDecember 3, 202515 comments

The Bail Project has released data showing that 92% of people released without cash bail returned to court, challenging claims used to justify expanding pretrial detention and providing evidence for a fairer and more humane pretrial system.

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig Amplifies Claims of Corruption and Fraud in California’s Public Assistance System

By David M. GreenwaldNovember 7, 20254 comments

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig has claimed that California’s public assistance system is “completely corrupted” due to widespread fraud and weakened enforcement, while critics have noted that public assistance fraud is a small fraction of total benefits distributed nationwide.

Reisig Complains about Judge’s Dismissal of Charges against UCD Protesters

By David M. GreenwaldOctober 21, 202531 comments

Judge Sonia Cortés dismissed felony vandalism and conspiracy charges against three UC Davis protesters who had spray-painted the university’s Egghead sculptures and other campus property during a 2024 protest, after they paid restitution, completed community service, and participated in educational activities reflecting an understanding of the artwork’s cultural importance.

Reisig Among 30 California District Attorneys Opposing Proposition 50

By David M. GreenwaldOctober 10, 202526 comments

30 district attorneys from California have publicly opposed Proposition 50, arguing that it would dismantle the state’s independent redistricting system and allow partisan gerrymandering to return.

Reisig’s Office Fights Compassionate Release for Terminal Cancer Patient

By David M. GreenwaldSeptember 26, 20250 comments

Yolo County prosecutors are opposing California’s compassionate release law, which provides a humane safeguard for terminally ill or permanently incapacitated people, while advocates argue that it is necessary to protect public health and dignity.

Reisig Doubles Down on Flawed Zero-Bail Data, Aligns with Trump’s Anti-Bail Order

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 27, 20250 comments

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig is promoting his controversial “zero bail” study, which has been criticized by reform advocates, as part of President Trump’s push to eliminate cashless bail nationwide.

Opinion: Reisig’s Reform Image Collides with His MAGA Turn on Mail Ballots

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 18, 202513 comments

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig has abandoned his moderate reformer image by repeating debunked claims of widespread ballot box stuffing, which undermines trust in democratic institutions and is in alignment with a national movement to cast doubt on legitimate elections.

Opinion: Maybe We Should Be Paying More Attention to Corrupt Practices by Traditional Prosecutors

By David M. GreenwaldJune 15, 20250 comments

Progressive prosecutors are facing intense scrutiny for their policies, while traditional prosecutors who have committed serious ethical violations are largely ignored, creating a double standard in the media discourse on criminal justice reform.

Op-Ed | Jeff Reisig’s Right-Wing Turn Is No Longer Just a Pivot—It’s a Reveal

By David M. GreenwaldJune 9, 20258 comments

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig has transformed from a data-driven, reform-minded prosecutor to a hardline carceral advocate, aligning himself with right-wing media and embracing the politics of punishment over criminal justice reform.

New Law Targets Repeat Offenders but Raises Equity Concerns in Alameda County and Beyond

By Qinghe (Riverdell) WangMay 26, 20250 comments

Proposition 36, a law passed in California to toughen penalties for theft and drug offenses, has resulted in over 160 felony charges in Alameda County, with the majority of those charged being Black, and has not yet led to an increase in the county’s jail population.

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