San Diego City Wire

The American Bar Association (ABA) has recognized Assistant District Attorney Dwain Woodley with the Curtin-Maleng Award for his contributions as a prosecutor. The award was presented during an ABA spring meeting in Miami, Florida.

The Curtin-Maleng Award is given to prosecutors who adhere to the principles outlined in the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice, Prosecution Function, which emphasize seeking justice over merely securing convictions.

District Attorney Summer Stephan praised Woodley, stating, “Assistant District Attorney Dwain Woodley epitomizes the principles of integrity that every prosecutor should aspire to. He treats everyone with dignity and respect, leads with the clarity of purpose that justice demands and gives voice to the people of San Diego County. He has worked tirelessly to deliver fair and equal justice for all, protect victims of crime, build trust with the public and develop direct access to our office for all the communities we serve.”

Stephan further expressed her pride in working alongside Woodley in leading one of the largest district attorney's offices in the nation. She emphasized their shared commitment to balancing victims' rights, accused individuals' rights, and community safety.

Woodley's career includes service as a public defender and prosecutor in the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1989 to 1995. He joined San Diego County's Public Defender’s Office before moving to the District Attorney’s Office as a deputy district attorney in 2001. In 2021, he was appointed Assistant District Attorney.

Woodley played a key role in developing and leading the DA’s Community Partnership Prosecutors program, which connects communities with services related to domestic violence, child abuse, and hate crimes. Additionally, he collaborates with For The People on reviewing cases eligible for prosecutor-initiated resentencings.