Santa Maria Sun / News

Scott named North County's chief deputy DA

BY JEREMY THOMAS

In the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Santa Maria office, Kelly Scott is in the process of settling in as the North County’s new chief deputy district attorney, replacing the retiring Jerry Lulejian.

Santa Barbara County DA Joyce Dudley announced Scott’s appointment on Aug. 17. Scott will handle cases dealing with real estate fraud, consumer and environmental issues, and in addition, will supervise the DA’s office in Lompoc, Dudley’s office said.

“I am deeply honored and extremely excited to have been selected for this position,” Scott said in a press release. “I look forward to fulfilling the mission of the District Attorney’s Office and working closely with my colleagues throughout the county.”

Scott spent the past eight years with the County Counsel’s Office, where she specialized in civil rights litigation and served as in-house counsel to the Sheriff’s Department.

She grew up in Louisiana and received her law degree from Pepperdine University’s School of Law. She began her legal career as a civil litigator for the California Department of Transportation, where she tried cases involving dangerous conditions of public property, inverse condemnation, employment law, and eminent domain.

“Kelly’s experience as a civil attorney will bring a unique perspective to our office,” Dudley said in a prepared statement. “Her passion for justice and hard work will benefit us all.”