Ogg taps ex-judge to lead integrity division
New post to advise DA’s staff on ethics, professionalism
Former judge David Mendoza has been tapped to lead the newly created division of professional integrity for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
He will be advising the 700 employees in the district attorney’s office — including prosecutors, investigators and other staff — on ethics and professionalism, District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Wednesday.
“There are few jobs where judgment is more important than it is as a prosecutor,” Ogg said. “His experience will be a tremendous asset to our office, ensuring that our lawyers and staff always have access to expertise on issues of ethics.”
Mendoza will lead the Office of Professional Integrity, a new division, to address appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion, discovery, immunity and the state’s Michael Morton Act, designed to increase defense access to evidence.
He also will oversee the district attorney’s training section and help revise policies and procedures.
“I’m honored to be part of a team to assist district attorney’s office employees in performing their duties at the highest professional level,” Mendoza said in a statement.
Ogg was sworn in Jan. 1 after handing pink slips to 40 prosecutors, mostly senior officials in the former administration. Since then, she has begun hiring defense attorneys as her top lieutenants including noted lawyer Vivian King, who as chief of staff will oversee budgets, operations and other day-to-day running of the office.
She also hired attorney David Mitcham as Interim First Assistant and trial bureau chief to oversee the majority of the 300 prosecutors in the office, supervising the trial bureaus and special prosecution divisions.
Mendoza began practicing law in 1979 as an assistant district attorney in Harris County. He went on to be a board-certified criminal defense lawyer and practiced for 17 years.
Mendoza, a Democrat, was a misdemeanor judge for eight years, then a felony court judge for another eight. He announced his retirement last year and was replaced Jan. 1.
Mendoza, a native of Houston, is married to a retired educator. He is a past president of the Mexican American Bar Association of Houston and director of the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston.
News of Wednesday’s appointment spread quickly through the courthouse.
“I think he’ll definitely be an asset to the DA’s office,” said veteran defense attorney Sam Cammack. “He was a very fair judge and didn’t play favorites. That’s a good place for him.” Others agreed. “He’s a man of great integrity,” said lawyer Karen Barney. “That’s a good move.”