District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley Retires
By the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office
Earlier this year, District Attorney Joyce Dudley decided not to seek a fourth term and instead retire after over 32 years.
Today, she described her decision as “bittersweet and somewhat scary.”
Joyce began working at age six in her father’s restaurant in Queens, New York. She has never been unemployed until her upcoming final day of work on January 2, 2023, which will be followed by a small retirement party.
Joyce will swear in District Attorney-Elect John T. Savrnoch on January 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office. Joyce then plans to leave the following day for an extended trip to Colorado.
“I grew up quite poor,” Joyce said, “and I always dreamed about being able to ski to my heart’s content, so that is what this trip is all about. For me, this trip is also about discovering who I am without the most cherished positions I have held throughout my life: mother of four boys, wife (Joyce’s husband John died in 2019), and District Attorney for the County of Santa Barbara. The best way to describe how I feel now is the old adage: 'Parting in such sweet sorrow.' The best part of my new life is that I will have uninterrupted time with those I love, including my children and grandchildren.”
Joyce also stated that she deeply appreciates the people she has worked with, as well as the people of the communities she has served.
Joyce ended her comments by saying how thrilled she is that John Savrnoch will be her successor, and she feels her office is full of extraordinary professionals in every division.
21 Comments
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Dec 31, 2022 02:04 PMJoyce your hard work is appreciated! You have earned to ha me an amazing retirement with your family. I had to reach out to you for help many years ago and although it wasn't a problem you could solve you responded quickly and personally and gave me good advice. I will always remember that. Best wishes!!
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Dec 31, 2022 04:12 PMTerrible DA, ignored significant crimes, employed some real abusers of authority.
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Dec 31, 2022 07:53 PMAlex - Agreed. Seriously took the slap on the wrist approach too many times and chose to prosecute in such an arbitrary way.
It’s funny that the type of people who support this approach are also the only people who would pay just for the privilege of downvoting others
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Jan 01, 2023 12:22 AMAre you that ignorant? Look at her record against thr most horrid deplorables. Grow up.
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Jan 01, 2023 01:04 AMAgreed. Worst of the worst. Hypocritical and arrogant. Total f'n clown.
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Jan 01, 2023 10:50 AMAny specific examples? Or are you just extending the Tucker Putin nonsense to inapplicable local issues? My New Years resolution is to have zero tolerance for right wing clowns.
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Jan 01, 2023 11:48 AMTucker Putin--LOL. My statements about Dudley have nothing to do with politics, and I'm probably what most people would consider extreme left politically.
She did some bad things, some of her people did some bad things, she knew about bad things and did nothing--am I going to give specifics, no, because there's no way to achieve a just outcome.
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Jan 01, 2023 07:21 PMAlex: Lol yeah sure, the extreme left winger who thinks Dudley wasn’t tough enough on crime. Checks out. Are you so far into the fringe that you think we should have Communist-style purges and gulags? Go back to trolling YouTube or whatever you do in your spare time.
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Jan 01, 2023 10:14 PMAlex, it sounds like trolling to toss out vague accusations. You might have valid points, but are not making them. The way you put forth your objections is too underhanded for me to consider. (I usually agree with you.)
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Jan 02, 2023 09:39 AMHaha. By illogically inferring political affiliations, everyone can tell you’ve never been a victim of a crime.
If you think that because we are tired of her “the suspect is the victim” mentality we must be conservative you need to do some travel and maybe go back to school.
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Dec 31, 2022 04:15 PMThank you Joyce. You've done a good job. Good luck in the future.
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Dec 31, 2022 06:36 PMGood riddance! I don’t think the new one is any better. But hopefully they won’t instruct Leo that they have to cite someone 3 times for the same crime before any charges will be filed. I did a ride along and that is exactly what the officer told me when I asked why the homelessness was getting out of control.
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Dec 31, 2022 09:14 PMThirty two years is a lot of time in any job, and the DA is a tough job. And you raised a family of four boys, also a tough job. You earned your ski time. Best wishes for a fabulous retirement.
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Jan 01, 2023 07:20 AMI knew Joyce Dudley professionally since she started as a Deputy District Attorney working the sex crime cases. Her intelligence, integrity, and energy were evidenced from day one. I voted for Joyce for District Attorney. Joyce Dudley is/was one of the best DA's, and I've worked with her predecessors as well. In elective office, you'll always have shameless anonymous hacks take potshots at you. For the vast majority of your constituents, Joyce, I say job well done and enjoy a wonderful life in retirement. Thank you.
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Jan 01, 2023 07:24 AMI look forward to a change. Crime needs some enforcement. We had a grand jury investigation into Cold Spring School that was referred to the DA. After a year long investigation it just magically disappeared .
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Jan 01, 2023 11:01 AMRegardless of how one evaluates her performance as DA, I was seriously bothered by the political maneuver she initiated to subvert democracy and install her second in command in her position. She announced her intent to not run for re-election about a day before the filing deadline and endorsed her intended successor who was ready to file. Everyone else was blindsided. It was a totally political manipulation and colored my opinion of her. Her successor may have been the best candidate, but voters deserved an open election, not a passing of the mantle of leadership to whomever she chose.
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Jan 01, 2023 03:18 PMDon't forget, this purple haired two faced self serving clown stepped on a dying woman's neck to become DA in the first place, fired all opposition and terminated anyone within who had an opposing view on an issue.
I do like that somone else out there saw her stunt as totally political. She timed it, had a plan and executed it. The real unanswered question is why? What does Smarno have to hold so dear and near?
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Jan 01, 2023 05:18 PMIt's obvious you don't know her at all!
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Jan 01, 2023 05:16 PMWe will so miss Joyce Dudley's integrity and sincere caring about the safety of Santa Barbara citizens and fairness shown to all of us by this District Attorney. I did not know Mr. Savrnoch, but was on the committee to interview this candidate, and he was impressive! I now see why Dudley had such confidence in him. We are in good hands and I wish Ms Dudley the best retirement and much thanks for the wonderful job she did.
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Jan 01, 2023 05:40 PMAlexblue what specifically do you think she did wrong and what would you have done differently?
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Jan 02, 2023 10:34 AMI have always appreciated her tough stance on sexual assault and child abuse. I wish she was tougher on hate crimes and investigated them more thoroughly.
I also wish she wasn't so connected to the Sheriff's Office and refused to make any charges or deeper looks at officer involved shootings. The Independent did some great reporting on this.