The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has appointed Damon Silver as the County’s new Public Defender. He began his duties this week.
Silver has three decades of experience as a public defender, most of which has been spent at the Santa Clara County Public Defender\u2019s Office. He has served as acting public defender since December 2024.
\u201cDamon has served the county Office of the Public Defender for nearly three decades, and his longstanding commitment to public service clearly demonstrates that he is exceptionally well-suited for this role,\u201d said Board President Otto Lee. \u201cWe are proud to see a leader with such deep institutional knowledge and community partnership rise to lead the Public Defender\u2019s Office.\u201d
Silver has tried a wide variety of felony cases as a public defender, including homicides, and has experience in capital litigation. In 2016, he became Chief Trial Deputy for the Public Defender\u2019s Office. The following year, he was named Assistant Public Defender, responsible for the office\u2019s homicide, juvenile and felony trial teams.
Silver helped establish community outreach attorney positions and a postconviction-outreach team for the Public Defender\u2019s Office and spearheaded multiple initiatives to ensure the office served everyone in the community, regardless of background.
\u201cThe public defender position is vital to ensuring that every resident has equitable access to proper legal support,\u201d said Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, who chairs the Board of Supervisors\u2019 Public Safety and Justice Committee. \u201cThroughout his career, Damon has made supporting children and families as they navigate the legal justice system his guiding principle. That passion gives me great confidence that he will uphold the importance of the Public Defender\u2019s Office to the highest degree.\u201d
Silver\u2019s leadership is rooted in collaboration with county and legal system partners and the community, particularly those affected by the criminal justice system.
\u201cIt is an incredible honor to be appointed by the Board of Supervisors to this critical role. I\u2019m humbled to have earned their trust,\u201d Silver said. \u201cI realize how important this decision is from the community\u2019s perspective, and I am committed to work in partnership with them. I want to be clear that the Public Defender\u2019s Office under my leadership will remain laser focused on our mission and the task at hand, which is to serve our most vulnerable communities.\u201d
Silver received his bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and his law degree from the UC Davis School of Law. He is a lifelong resident of the Bay Area, having grown up in the North Bay. He has resided in Santa Clara County since 1998.<\/p>\n
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