Deputy District Attorney Mark Amador with District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.
SAN DIEGO–Deputy District Attorney Mark Amador was named prosecutor of the year by the California District Attorneys Association at its annual installation dinner and awards program. The award recognizes stellar work by a prosecutor.
“I am so proud of Deputy DA Mark Amador,” District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said. “His tenacity, perseverance, professionalism, work ethic and dedication to justice make him a role model for attorneys throughout the state. He is clearly one of the finest and we’re lucky to have him pursuing justice in San Diego.”
Over the past five years, Amador has dedicated himself to the Los Palillos prosecution, a case involving 17 defendants, nine murders and 15 kidnappings by a rogue cell of the Arellano-Felix Organization. This is one of — if not the largest — murder prosecutions in the history of San Diego County.
Amador first became involved in the case during its investigation and was greatly responsible for taking action that saved the life of one of the group’s hostages. Thereafter, he presented evidence at a two-month grand jury hearing, and prosecuted five trials, for which he spent a total of 21 actual months in trial, acting as lead prosecutor in three of them and co-chairing the other two.
The longest and most complex of the trials led by Amador was the death penalty trial of the leaders of the organization that lasted more than a year, and involved hundreds of motions, the six week testimony of a confidential informant, testimony of reticent family members of the victims, many of whom themselves were incarcerated, strategic character attacks on Amador and allegations of misconduct.
Throughout the prosecution, Amador kept his eye on the goal and remained professional, and passionate about the case. His unwavering commitment to justice continued throughout the purchase of his first house, the birth of his first child, and other personal accomplishments and challenges he faced. Case related challenges also occurred, including serious threats of violence against Amador and his family, personal character attacks by the defense, and attempts to have him thrown off the case. Amador continued through this adversity and prevailed, sending all that he tried to prison for life without the possibility of parole.
