Placer County supervisors appoint new district attorney 

Published on April 7, 2020

The Placer County Board of Supervisors appointed a new district attorney today after an intensive, three-month-long process to select a qualified candidate. Supervisors appointed Morgan Briggs Gire, who has been practicing law for more than 20 years, including 15 years at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office where he served as an assistant chief deputy district attorney.

Gire, who was born and raised in Placer County, was selected from a pool of eight candidates after an in-depth interview process that was conducted by the Board of Supervisors.

“Our interview process was quite rigorous. We had a superb pool of candidates. The board wanted to make sure the candidate we selected was a good match for the department and the community,” said Board Chair Bonnie Gore. “We queried each candidate about their philosophies of incarceration, discussed the impacts of addiction and mental health on the criminal justice system and delved into evidence-based practices in achieving public safety.”

Immediately after the appointment, Gire was sworn-in by Judge Garen Horst, a long-time friend, and professional associate. Prior to administering the oath of office, Judge Horst recounted how Gire had grown up in Loomis and held an internship with the Placer County District Attorney’s Office. After taking the oath, Gire shared a heartfelt message with the board.

“It’s good to be coming home. I have always loved Placer County and I have always loved the Placer County District Attorney’s Office,” said Gire. “I am excited to be leading such a talented team that has earned the reputation for being one of the best district attorney offices in the state.”

Gire has served in a variety of prosecutorial roles throughout his two-decade-long career, conducting more than 100 jury trials involving complex issues faced in criminal law. During his time with the Sacramento D.A.’s office, Gire served five years in the Gangs and Hate Crimes Division and was later selected to lead the Justice, Training and Integrity Division. In his role as an assistant chief deputy, Gire continued overseeing the Justice, Training and Integrity Division, along with the Community Prosecution Unit, Legislative Affairs, Government Relations, as well as the Community Outreach and Media Relations Division.

The Placer County District Attorney is an elected position, that serves as the public prosecutor and assists victims of crimes, while managing a staff of 118 employees, including 44 attorneys, at offices in Roseville and North Lake Tahoe. The district attorney is also responsible for protecting the well-being of children, assisting with investigations conducted by law enforcement and making ethical decisions when initiating prosecution.

The D.A. position has been vacant since Dec. 30, 2019, after former Placer District Attorney Scott Owens retired prior to the end of his elected term in office. Pursuant to the county charter and state statute, when a mid-term vacancy occurs in an elected county office, the Board of Supervisors must appoint a successor to serve the remaining term.

Gire will hold the office for Owens’ unexpired term which ends Jan. 2, 2023. Placer County voters will select a district attorney in the 2022 election.