In 2003, as Kamala Harris campaigned for the position of San Francisco district attorney, her campaign distributed mailers highlighting her prosecutorial experience, emphasizing “thirteen years of courtroom experience.”
She claimed a “long track record of being an outstanding public prosecutor” and had “tried hundreds of serious and violent felonies, including homicide, rape, and child sexual assault cases.”
During a debate leading up to the 2003 election, Harris was confronted by her opponent, veteran criminal defense attorney Bill Fazio. Fazio challenged Harris on the number of cases she had actually tried, questioning the accuracy of her campaign’s “hundreds of cases” claims.
In response, Harris stated she had tried “about 50 cases,” but did not directly address Fazio’s accusations regarding her campaign’s portrayal of her experience.
Harris began her legal career in Alameda County, where she prosecuted cases involving child sexual assault, homicides, and robberies. By 1998, she was managing attorney of the Career Criminal Unit in the San Francisco district attorney’s office, overseeing the prosecution of repeat offenders.
Kamala Harris was chosen to be the the Democratic Nominee for President, without getting any votes, since starting her campaign she still has not released any policies except “No Tax