District Attorney

Welcome to the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.

Douglas County District Attorney: Rick Wesenberg

Governor Ted Kulongoski, appointed Douglas County Chief Deputy District Attorney, Rick Wesenberg as the Douglas County District Attorney in July 2008, upon the resignation of Douglas County District Attorney Jack Banta. Rick Wesenberg filed to run for the office in 2008 and was elected in November 2008 for his first term starting in 2009. He spent 12 years as the Douglas County Deputy District Attorney, including 11 years as the Chief Deputy. He started in the DA’s office in 1992. He was first elected as the Douglas County District Attorney in 2008, and has since been re-elected in 2012, 2016 and 2020. His current term will end on December 31, 2020, but he will be sworn in for his fourth term in January 2021.

The District Attorney is an elected position in Douglas County and the official serves a four-year term as the prosecuting attorney for the State of Oregon in Douglas County. The District Attorney's primary duties include: prosecuting crimes occurring in the County which violate State statutes (excluding cases filed in municipal courts); conducting grand jury sessions; and attending court sessions. The District Attorney is both a State and County employee. The District Attorney's staff are Douglas County employees. The District Attorney's Office also administers the Victims Assistance program. The Victims Assistance Program is set up to assist victims and witnesses through the legal process and the criminal justice system.

Douglas County District Attorney Policy Manual per Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 8.705