District Attorney Blodgett to Head National Prosecutors Group

Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett is to become the head of the National District Attorney’s Association next year.

Blodgett was elected last week by his peers to serve as president-elect of the association at the group’s board meeting in Minneapolis last week. He will succeed newly installed President Mike Freeman of Hennepin County, Minn., and then serve as chairman of the board in 2019.

“Every day, district attorneys stand up for victims of crime and seek justice on behalf of their fellow citizens in courtrooms across this country without fanfare,” Blodgett said. “Their hard work and devotion to the law makes a difference to crime victims and the communities they serve.”

Following the board meeting, the association hosted its Summer Summit, a three-day conference focused on reducing violence against women and their exploitation. Blodgett said he was particularly moved by the sessions on human trafficking.  “The stories are heart-breaking and we need to do more to dismantle human trafficking networks,” he added.

The National District Attorneys Association was formed in 1950 by local prosecutors to advance their causes and issues at the national level. Representatives of the association meet regularly with the Department of Justice, members of Congress and other national associations to represent the views of prosecutors in the crafting of federal and national policies and programs that affect law enforcement and county prosecutors. The organization is comprised of 5000 local district attorneys, 2600 of which are elected.