Kevin V. Ryan - Education and Background

Education and Background

Ryan was born in Alberta Canada to the son of an Irish immigrant. He graduated from Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Dartmouth College, and received his Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Ryan began his legal career in California as a prosecutor with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. While in the District Attorney's Office, he handled a variety of cases including homicides and violent gang prosecutions.

In 1996, while serving as a member of the Violent Gang Suppression Unit, Ryan was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson to serve as a Judge on the San Francisco Municipal Court.

Judge

In 1998, Ryan was re-elected, winning by the highest percentage in any of the five contested judicial races. His base of support included the endorsements of almost 100 local judges, law enforcement organizations, victims' rights group, community clubs and elected officials at all levels of state government. He was the sole candidate to receive the endorsement of all three Municipal Attorneys—the District Attorney, the City Attorney and the Public Defender—and earned the highest possible rating by the San Francisco Bar Association (Exceptionally Well Qualified). Ryan was endorsed by every major newspaper in San Francisco. In 1999, he began his tenure as a member of the San Francisco Superior Court. During his almost seven years on the bench, Ryan handled matters in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions. Ryan was serving as the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division when President Bush appointed him to be the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California.

Deputy District Attorney

Ryan began his legal career in California as a prosecutor with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. While in the District Attorney's office, he handled a variety of cases, including homicides and violent gang prosecutions. He was serving as a member of the Violent Gang Suppression Unit when Governor Pete Wilson appointed him in 1996 to serve as a Judge on the San Francisco Municipal Court.

Deputy Chief of Staff and Director, SF Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice

In January 2008, Ryan was appointed by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to serve as his Deputy Chief of Staff and as the Director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ). He joined the Administration during a period of troubling crime trends in San Francisco, and he was specifically tasked with driving policies designed to reverse the trends. During his tenure, the City witnessed a dramatic turn around in the area of homicides and part 1 crimes. Comparing 2008 to 2009, San Francisco's homicide rate declined by 52%. In the same period, many other part one and violent crime statistics were driven down significantly as well.

As Director of MOCJ, Ryan took a proactive, comprehensive approach to reducing the occurrence of crime in San Francisco. He was instrumental in the introduction and passage of three pieces of nightclub related legislation designed to make the entertainment commission more effective in dealing with related violence, the careful and much needed review of the City's long-standing Sanctuary City Ordinance, the development of the SFPD's Zone Strategy to reduce crime, the expansion of the ShotSpotter system with the help of a $1 million Congressionally directed investment, the reinvigoration of the more than ten year old JUSTIS program, and the fight to keep the Community Justice Center open.

In addition, Ryan was involved with at least four studies of the SF Police Department and the evaluation of the Public Safety Camera program. He also led bimonthly public safety clusters attended by senior representatives of the Police, Sheriff, Housing, Juvenile and Adult Probation departments, as well as the School District and the District Attorney's office. Ryan also served on behalf of the Mayor as the Co-Chair of the Reentry Council. Upon Ryan's resignation in December 2009, Mayor Newsom issued the following statement:

"His counsel and dedication were key to reducing violent crime in The City. During his tenure, Ryan oversaw and implemented numerous reforms that will make San Francisco a safer city for years to come."

In a November 18, 2009 article, the SF Examiner described Ryan as "a steadying hand in the Newsom administration."

Awards – during his career as a lawyer and judge, Ryan has served both the administration of justice and the greater community in many different ways:

• In 1998, he was recognized by the San Francisco Trial Lawyers' Association as the Municipal Court Trial Judge of the Year.
• Also, in 1998, Ryan was recognized by the Irish-Israeli-Italian Society of San Francisco for "Outstanding Service to the Community."
• Ryan was appointed by the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court to serve on the Judicial Council's Executive Legislative Action Network.
• He was appointed by the Governing Committee of the California Center for Judicial Education and Research to the Criminal Law Planning Committee of the California Continuing Judicial Studies Program.
• He was appointed by the Presiding Judge for the Courts to the Adult Probation Department's Oversight Committee
• He served as a member of the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Superior Court.
• He served as a member of the Executive Committee of the University of San Francisco School of Law's American Inn of Courts.
• He served as a Board member of the University of San Francisco's Law School Society Board of Governors.
• He is a past member of the Board of Trustees for the Schools of the Sacred Heart in San Francisco.
• He served as an Honorary Board Member for the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Team Northern California.
• He served for many years as a faculty member for the University of San Francisco School of Law Intensive Trial Advocacy Program.
• He was recognized in 2006 as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in California by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily.
• In 2007, Irish America Magazine recognized Ryan as one of the Nation's Top 100 Irish Americans.
• In 2008, the magazine again recognized his accomplishments, naming him one of the Top 100 Lawyers in their "Inaugural Legal 100" issue.
• The Northern California Super Lawyers Magazine also listed Ryan as amongst the Top Attorneys in Northern California for both 2006 and 2007.