San Diego was Friday named the local Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter’s Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year for 2017.
Since joining the City Attorney’s office in January 2016, Longobardo has had 19 jury trials, eight of them driving under the influence cases, according to the city. She obtained guilty verdicts in all of the DUIs except one, where the jury hung 11-1 in favor of guilt. Longobardo resolved the case with a conviction for reckless driving with alcohol involved.
Several of the deputy city attorney’s cases have required her to overcome DUI defense attorneys who cast doubt on breath tests, the city said.
City Attorney Mara Elliott said “MADD could not have picked a better Prosecutor of the Year.”
“Despite the many responsible alternatives to drinking and driving, our office continues to prosecute and convict thousands of drunk drivers each year,” Elliott said. “Giovanna Longobardo’s aggressive prosecution of drunk drivers played a key role in our efforts to reduce the number of DUI-related crashes, injuries and fatalities in the city of San Diego. Drinking while driving is an intentional crime that we’ll prosecute to the maximum extent of the law.”
Longobardo received her award Friday at MADD’s 2018 Law Enforcement & Prosecutor Recognition Ceremony at the Balboa Park Club.Deputy City Attorney Wins Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award.
–City News Service