For Garret Wong (’08), the greatest benefit of earning a JD was the opportunity to serve his community and seek justice for the most vulnerable of crime victims. Since graduating from law school at Chapman, he has done just that as a Deputy District Attorney in the Family Protection Division of the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

Coming from a family of law enforcement (Wong’s father was formerly a special agent with the FBI) and federal government service (Wong’s mother served as Assistant Chief Counsel for Customs & Border Protection in San Francisco), Wong said he had no hesitation choosing a career path in criminal prosecution. He transitioned straight into the District Attorney’s Office after graduation. The Family Protection Division where Wong is currently assigned specializes in the criminal prosecution of child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse cases.

“These types of crimes involve the most vulnerable victims,” Wong said. “I like being the person who not only seeks to attain justice for the victims and their families but the one who helps them cope with the emotional consequences as well.”

wong at arraignment

Garret Wong (third from right) with his co-counsel Patrick Espinoza at a press conference for the arraignment in The People v. Lopez, Perez, and Maraglino case

This year, Wong was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement Award 7 Years or Less” by the San Diego Deputy District Attorneys Association for his work on The People v. Lopez, Perez, and Maraglino case. The three defendants in this case were heavily involved in the bondage-sadomasochism (BDSM) community and were ultimately convicted of first-degree murder, along with special circumstances alleging the kidnapping and torture of victim Brittany Killgore. The case lasted three years and garnered widespread national media attention.

The case was the first time Wong worked on such a lengthy matter. “I was just thankful for the opportunity to work on such an important case, so to receive an award for this was a big honor and incredibly humbling,” he said.

“Getting justice for the victim’s family absolutely made the time spent worth it,” Wong said. “I feel very lucky to be in a position to help victims and their families in their times of need.”

While at Chapman, Wong was heavily involved in the Mock Trial and Appellate Moot Court programs, under the direction of Professor Nancy Schultz, and also worked at internships with the Anaheim City Attorney and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Wong also credits his Trial Practice, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence professors with preparing him for a career at the District Attorney’s Office. After graduation, he was hired by the San Diego District Attorney’s Office and hasn’t looked back. Although his own path was clear to him from the start of law school, Wong advises students to explore every interest to find their greatest areas of passion.

“Take on externships and internships, seek out mentors, and try as many different things as you can,” he said. “We all enter law school more or less in the same place, but it made me proud to see my classmates follow their own interests and forge their own unique paths.”

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Above: Garret Wong (left) with his co-counsel Patrick Espinoza after receiving the “Outstanding Achievement Award 7 Years or Less” from the San Diego Deputy District Attorneys Association