Maria Ramirez

Maria has been a prosecutor for the LADA’s Office for 29 years. In January 2019, District Attorney Jackie Lacey appointed Maria to the position of Director of the Bureau of Specialized Prosecutions, where she oversees seven divisions including Major Crimes, Hardcore Gang, Sex Crimes, Family Violence, Major Narcotics, Target Crimes and Juvenile Divisions. Immediately preceding her appointment to Director, Maria was the Head Deputy District Attorney of LADA’s Cyber Crime Division. Maria was the first Latina in the history of the LADA to be appointed to the Head Deputy position and is now the first Latina Director.

Maria graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 1987 with a major in Political Science and received her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 1990. Maria joined the LADA in 1990 and spent most her career in the Hardcore Gang and Major Narcotics Divisions. Maria is a former board member of the Mexican American Bar Association and served as its President in 2016. Maria currently serves on the boards of the Latino Prosecutors Foundation and the Mexican American Bar Foundation. Maria lives in Whittier with her husband Edward Guerrero, Alhambra Fire Department Battalion Chief and their eight-year-old son Cruz.