HILLSBORO, Ore.- Before a crowd of dozens of elected officials, city and county leaders, colleagues and community members, Kevin Barton was officially sworn-in as District Attorney of Washington County. 

Barton won his election in May of 2018 by a significant margin after a highly contested and much publicized race.  Following that election, former District Attorney Bob Hermann retired early and the Governor appointed Barton to finish the remainder of Hermann’s term.  The swearing-in ceremony today marks the official start of Barton’s elected term as Washington County District Attorney.

Prior to becoming District Attorney, Barton was a career prosecutor who worked his way up through the ranks of the DA’s Office to become Chief Deputy District Attorney.  As a prosecutor, Barton prosecuted many of Washington County’s most serious crimes and specialized in prosecuting crimes committed against children.  As District Attorney, Barton will continue his focus on public safety.

“My mission as District Attorney is to seek justice and protect our community,” said Barton.  “That means doing the right thing for the right reason and always being mindful how any decision affects community safety.” 

Barton is heavily invested in the Washington County community.  He was raised locally and lives in Washington County with his wife and children.  In addition to his duties as District Attorney, Barton serves on the governing board of CARES Northwest, a community-based medical program whose mission is to stop child abuse. He is also a member of the Attorney General’s Child Abuse Advisory Council, and Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. Additionally, Barton is a founding member of the Building Bridges Steering Committee, a coalition of public safety leaders and diverse civil society organizations who are committed to building hope and trust in our community.

“An important aspect of being safe is feeling safe,” said Barton. “The District Attorney must lead the effort to ensure that the criminal justice system works for all members of our community.”

To see the full ceremony, visit the official Facebook page for the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.