Diana Becton


Diana Becton, also known as Diana Becton Smith is a former trial judge and is currently the first female African American to be elected district attorney in the history of Contra Costa County in California.

Career

Becton was sworn in September 18, 2017. Her term will expire in January 2019. She was criticized for plagiarizing portions of her district attorney employment application.
She was admitted to the State Bar of California on December 11, 1986, and her attorney status is active. She became a judge on November 28, 1995. Becton served for 22 years as a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge.
She is a temporary mid-term appointment to replace Mark Peterson, who voluntarily stepped down because of allegations that he had improperly spent campaign contributions and after he pled no contest to perjury. In July 2017 he was suspended by the state bar. In 2018, she ran for the DA position.
On July 7, 2020, Diana Becton charged two residents of Contra Costa with a hate crime for allegedly defacing a Black Lives Matter mural.

Personal life

Becton grew up in East Oakland. She resides in El Sobrante, California.