Bonnie Dumanis is A Woman on Top

The view from the 13th floor of the Hall of Justice Courthouse in downtown San Diego is one to be remembered. The windows look out over the marina, and the reflective light of the water and glass from nearby buildings is remarkable. It’s hard to imagine a bad day in this office.

Bonnie Dumanis welcomed me at the door, like an old friend. The District Attorney’s office nuanced the comfort of home, a space very lived in. Nearly every inch of the walls were covered in photographed memories, artwork and even a few tokens from celebrity friends. She and I sat around a large conference table at the far side of the room, where the sunlight seemed brightest.

One wonders what it takes to do a job like Dumanis’s—how someone comes to bear the weight of decisions that impact a community, a state, a human life. The very table we sat around was where Dumanis had considered the death penalty during high-profile cases like that of Amber Dubois and Chelsea King. The thought of it made me shiver.

"We see the underbelly of the county of San Diego," she said. "It’s not for everyone, and you have to know the law in order to get the job done right."

Political agendas aside, the job Dumanis has been doing for more than 10 years in San Diego is a testament to those who place the law above all else, for the sake of others who may never come to know the struggle—never truly come to understand that jobs like Dumanis’s can’t simply be filled.

"It’s a calling to do this kind of work," she said. "I have a passion for public service [and] it’s tremendously rewarding."

There is a kind of lightness to the self-proclaimed "pit bull" of the courtroom. As she relaxed into the conversation and her Massachusetts accent became slightly more pronounced, it’s difficult to imagine her petite stature facing some of the most violent and disturbing crimes this county has ever endured.

She credits her ability to make tough decisions with experience she gained as a judge, learning to consider facts and the law above all else when determining a trial. And with advancements in forensics and DNA testing, she smiles knowing that justice can still be served to the families of loved ones whose case may have gone unsolved.

The Cold Case Unit is something Dumanis is visibly excited about. Bringing old cases back to life is science fiction come to life. For the families that have personally been touched by these efforts, it’s both rewarding and tragic.

"I hug them . . . I console them, and even though for some cases it’s been decades, for those families, it’s like it was yesterday. It’s very emotional," she said.

Bonnie Dumanis lives with a profoundly deep integration of the law in most aspects of her life. Her favorite television programs are popular crime shows like NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service)—dramas that often get her up out of her seat in response to Hollywood’s over-simplification of the justice system.

"Sometimes I’ll think to myself, ‘They can’t do that!’ when I’m watching a show," she said. "Some of the things they do are so over the top. You never solve a case in an hour."

For leisure, she enjoys learning more about the law or reading criminal mystery novels that often hit a little too close to home. "It gets too real sometimes," she concluded.

And like anyone committed to their work, getting away from the day-to-day can be challenging, though greatly deserved when managed. "I love to travel," she said. "I love cruising." Dumanis has been to Alaska twice, both sides of the Caribbean and throughout the Mediterranean on getaway. But even then, she is never totally unplugged. "I am completely married to my job," she said.

Today, Bonnie Dumanis enjoys the little things: her wonderful family, partner Denice, adorable dog and good food at her favorite eateries—Busalacchi’s, D.Z. Akin’s or at Bite of Boston (her mother’s favorite).

"I’m happy all the time," she said. "I get sad when I have to do sad things . . . but I still have a passion after all these years." She is very proud of her team and the accomplishments they have built together, including helping write and pass California’s Proposition 83, better known as Jessica’s Law.

Bonnie Dumanis looks right at home in her beautiful office on the 13th floor. It’s comfortable and well lived in. It suits her. And even though she has dedicated her life to serving the public and bears the burden of weighty decisions that most people can’t possibly imagine, she still has an incredible sense of humor about things. Her rich laughter is a sign that despite her calling to serve, she serves herself by being exactly who she is.

 For more information on Bonnie Dumanis go to http://www.sdcda.org/office/meet-da.html