John David Phillips

John Phillips was born in Sacramento, California and raised in Stockton. He graduated from Lincoln High School, U.C. Davis, and the U.C. Davis School of Law. 1969, he started as a law clerk for the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office. After passing the California State Bar in January 1971, he was hired as a prosecutor.

In 1986, John successfully ran for the office of District Attorney and was sworn in on January 5, 1987. He retired in 2005 as one of longest serving District Attorneys in California. During his 19 year tenure, he prosecuted some of the more high profile cases in the state and he expanded the office by opening court branches in Lodi, Manteca and Tracy.

John was a dedicated public servant to the people of San Joaquin County, but also spent much time in Santa Cruz, a town he loved. He spent the last decade of his life in Ocean Beach, a southern California version of Santa Cruz, to be near his children.

He had been married to Claudia Padilla Phillips for close to 50 years. He is survived by his daughter Cari, a Deputy District Attorney in San Diego County, his two grandchildren Jade (6 yrs) and RJ (4 yrs), and his son Christopher who is a JD and RN. He will live on in all their hearts.