DA Todd Spitzer is promising to cooperate with the investigation by the Office of Independent Review (OIR). “The allegations are quite serious,” said the OIR’s director.
Author Archives: Nick Gerda
Nick covers the city of Santa Ana, as well as the County of Orange, often reporting on issues like homelessness, public safety, mental health, and the role of money in politics.
Since joining Voice of OC in 2011, Nick has regularly shed light on topics that are often kept in the shadows. He’s reported on systemic problems in the county’s mental health system. He also led a reporting team that produced sophisticated looks at how the Disney corporation campaign contributions influenced recent elections in Anaheim.
Nick also revealed evidence of elected leaders using their official powers to apparently pressure government contractors into donating to their election campaigns, in an article that was awarded best news story of the year by the Orange County Press Club. He firmly believes journalism should inform the public and help hold the powerful accountable.
An Orange County native, Nick first started covering local government in his mid-teens, before attending Santa Ana College, the American University in Cairo, and UC Irvine, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Languages spoken: English, elementary Spanish, minimal Arabic and minimal Japanese
Areas of expertise: Local government, local politics, homelessness, mental health policy, campaign finance, California Public Records Act, Ralph M. Brown Act, County of Orange government, Santa Ana city government and municipal finance.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Alleged ‘Womanizer’ Memo Sparks Questions About DA Challenger Hardin’s Behavior As Prosecutor
An alleged memo from Hardin’s then-supervisor says he had a reputation of trying to date women in cases he prosecuted. Hardin denies the claims.
Posted inGovernment
DA Faces New Racial Bias Accusations as ACLU Analyzes Who Gets Prosecuted
It comes as DA Todd Spitzer faces claims of racial bias from his own prosecutors. Spitzer says the ACLU’s policies would endanger the public.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Emails Fuel New Claim DA Spitzer Lied to Court About His Death Penalty Decision in Homicide
Former prosecutor Matt Murphy alleges Spitzer lied to try to hide racially charged comments he made in a murder case. Spitzer denies the claims.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
High-Ranking OC Prosecutor Quits, Says DA Spitzer Jeopardized Mass Shooting Prosecution
Longtime prosecutor Tracy Miller says Spitzer made race-based decisions and jeopardized a mass shooting case. Spitzer says it’s a smear campaign.
Posted inGovernment
Prosecutor Revolt Brews Over DA Spitzer’s Ethics, Prompting Scathing Questions of Their Boss
Citing a host of alleged misconduct, rank and file prosecutors are asking Spitzer if he’ll resign if he loses a no-confidence vote.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Mother of Murder Victim Slams OC DA Todd Spitzer as Backing Off Death Penalty to Protect Himself
Brenda Partch, whose son was killed in 2019, says Spitzer retraumatized her by backing off a death penalty case to protect himself.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Cheating Scandals Trigger Dropped Endorsements For DA Spitzer, Baytieh Judge Campaigns
San Diego DA drops endorsement for Spitzer as he faces blowback over how his statements impacted a death penalty case. A prominent law professor also dropped support for Ebrahim Baytieh, a former Spitzer deputy on the other end of controversy.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Lead Police Detective Criticizes DA Todd Spitzer’s Statements About Race, Alleges Cover-Up
Detective tells judge that Spitzer ruined a death penalty case by making inappropriate racial remarks and then trying to cover it up.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
OC Prosecutors Challenge DA Spitzer for Bringing Race into Death Penalty Decision
Spitzer reportedly told his prosecutors he knew of Black men who get themselves out of bad circumstances by dating white women – prompting turmoil in the case.
