Lynneice O. Washington

Lynneice O. Washington is a resident of Bessemer, Alabama and serves as the District Attorney for the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Jefferson County, Bessemer Cutoff Division. She was formerly employed as a Prosecuting Attorney with the Bessemer District Attorney’s Office and worked with the Bessemer DA’s Office from February 2002 until February 2010, when she resigned her position to run as a candidate for District Judge.

Prior to becoming an Assistant District Attorney in 2002, District Attorney Washington was a solo practitioner in the general practice of law. Her practice focused mainly on domestic relations (divorce and child custody), family law (child support, juvenile delinquency), criminal defense (state and federal), personal injury, and probate law. She opened her office and began her full-time legal career in January 1997 after being admitted to the Alabama State Bar in September 1996.

She is a 1995 Cum Laude graduate of Miles Law School; received her BS degree from Auburn University at Montgomery in December 1990; and, is a product of the Birmingham Public School System, where she graduated from A.H. Parker High School in 1986.

During her run for District Judge in 2010 and at the height of her campaign, Lynneice was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2010. She was diagnosed three days after her husband left for Iraq as a Defense Contractor. On September 10, 2010, she underwent surgery, but still continued actively campaigning after 1 ½ weeks of recovery from surgery. A small supportive group of friends and family, who were aware of her plight, rallied around her and supported her journey as a cancer survivor, and with the campaign. After her close, but unsuccessful, run for a judgeship, she was appointed as a judge by the Bessemer City Council. During such time she received several weeks of chemotherapy immediately followed by several weeks of radiation. Although she lost her hair, and experienced some residual sickness from chemotherapy; she championed forward never losing her focus, faith or drive. As a breast cancer survivor, DA Washington participates in a number of panels and discussions each year to spread information concerning cancer prevention and awareness.

DA Washington’s judicial appointment on February 15, 2011, by the Bessemer City Council led to her appointment as the presiding judge over the Bessemer Municipal Court. Additionally, she had an active law practice; served as an appellate prosecutor for Irondale Municipal Court as well as a hearing officer for the Jefferson County Personnel Board.

Throughout her legal career, DA Washington has served in a number of legal and civic organizations. She’s a member of the Bessemer Bar Association; member of the Metropolitan Criminal Justice Executive Association; member of the National Black Prosecutors Association; Executive Board member of Crime Stoppers; member of NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives); Board member of VOCAL (Victims of Crime and Leniency); Board Member of the ADAA Foundation, Inc. (Alabama District Attorney’s Association); serves as Advisory Board Member with Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies (BBBB), a cancer awareness organization; member and Past President of the Bessemer Rotary Club; serves as a mentor with the P.I.N.K. The program which is an extension of the Bessemer Business Professional Women’s
Organization, and other organizations.

In her capacity as District Attorney, DA Washington has launched several programs and community events. In 2017 she launched the first DA-formed Task Force that she named Operation Python. The Task Force is a collaboration of various law enforcement agencies (federal state and local) working together to aggressively address violent crime within neighborhoods and communities. She is also credited with starting various units and programs within her office – specifically, the Cold Case Unit, Victim’s Service Unit, West Jefferson Helping Families Initiative and most recently, the Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) where claims of wrongful convictions are reviewed by her office and brought before the court for proper redress. DA Washington has assisted those seeking employment with marred criminal backgrounds by conducting the West Jefferson Second Chance Job Hiring Fair.

In her capacity as District Attorney, DA Washington has launched several programs and community events. In 2017 she launched the first DA-formed Task Force that she named Operation Python. The Task Force is a collaboration of various law enforcement agencies (federal state and local) working together to aggressively address violent crime within neighborhoods and communities. She is also credited with starting various units and programs within her office – specifically, the Cold Case Unit, Victim’s Service Unit, West Jefferson Helping Families Initiative and most recently, the Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) where claims of wrongful convictions are reviewed by her office and brought before the court for proper redress. DA Washington has assisted those seeking employment with marred criminal backgrounds by conducting the West Jefferson Second Chance Job Hiring Fair.

The 2016 election year historically defines DA Washington as the First Black Woman to be elected as District Attorney in the State of Alabama as well as the first Black woman to be elected as District Attorney in Jefferson County. In her elected role as Chief Law Enforcement Officer for Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff, DA Washington has indeed shattered the proverbial glass ceiling overcoming racial and gender barriers that have existed since the inception of our state.

Giving Thanks to God and recognizing that she is here due to so many others who gave the ultimate sacrifice fighting for liberties that we all now enjoy, she stands on those shoulders who have paved her way. She states "I may be the first to hold this position, but am merely the first of many to follow."

In addition to her legal and civic duties, DA Washington is a wife, mother and Christian.
She and her family are members of New Bethlehem Baptist Church. DA Washington is married to Jude Washington, and together they share four children – one son and three daughters.