Calumet County has a new district attorney. Governor Doyle appointed Jerilyn Dietz, an assistant D.A. in Manitowoc County, to succeed disgraced prosecutor Ken Kratz.
Kratz resigned in October, in the midst of a scandal over a series of sexually suggestive text messages that he sent to a domestic abuse victim while he was prosecuting her ex-boyfriend.
During a press conference Friday afternoon, Dietz told her own story for the first time of how she became a crime victim when she was sexually assaulted at the UW-Madison as a college student.
Dietz says the experience was terrifying and had a profound impact on her. However, she says it also inspired her to become a prosecutor because of the great way she was treated by those in the criminal justice system.
Dietz says she took the allegations against Kratz very personally because she works to protect those victims and find justice for them. She was horrified by Kratz’s behavior, and felt applying for the job was her calling.
AUDIO: Calumet County D.A. Jerilyn Dietz (:21)
Governor Doyle says there should be no doubt that Dietz will be a strong advocate for crime victims. He says those coming to her for help will find an experienced and professional prosecutor, who will treat victims with dignity.
AUDIO: Governor Jim Doyle (:19)
Doyle says Dietz will also forcefully and effectively prosecute those crimes, to make sure those responsible will go to prison and not victimize anyone else.