Rod Underhill, the current district attorney for the county, has chosen to leave office early. Underhill’s resignation will become effective at the end of the workday on Friday, July 31. Governor Kate Brown has appointed Schmidt to finish Underhill’s term before beginning his own.
One of the delights of obtaining a new position is collaborating with a business card printing service on a new card.
In explaining his resignation to his staff, Underhill said that he did not feel he was in a position to provide the county’s justice system with the necessary overhaul it needed. With a change of leadership only six months in the future, he felt it would be unfair to both the office and the community.
Schmidt explained the philosophy he is bringing to the district attorney’s office this way:
"Shrinking the criminal justice system, giving power back to judges from prosecutors, holding police accountable. These are things I believe in."
Schmidt’s campaign had emphasized his dedication to criminal justice reform, an example of which is the release of non-violent inmates from prison and jail as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.