Welcome

Steven M. Woodside was appointed Sonoma County Counsel on January 5, 1999. County Counsels are appointed by the Board of Supervisors for a four year term. The duties of the Office of County Counsel are set forth in California Government Code Section 27640-27648. Generally, the office represents the County in litigation and provides legal representation and advice to the Board of Supervisors, County departments and authorized programs.

COUNTY, CASINO REACH REVENUE-SHARING DEAL NEW!
The Sonoma County Supervisors and the Pomo Indian Tribe running River Rock Casino reached a revenue-sharing compromise on Tuesday, March 18, 2008.   On a 4-1 vote, supervisors approved an agreement in which the Tribe would contribute about $100 million during the next 12 years to pay for road improvements, firefighting and law enforcement, impacts attributable to the development of the casino.
Memorandum of Agreement Between The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians and County of Sonoma - March 18, 2008

Mission Statement

The Sonoma County Counsel's Office is committed to providing the highest quality level representation and advice, in a timely and responsive manner, to assist the County, its governing Board of Supervisors and other clients to promote the public interest, achieve programmatic and strategic goals and protect financial resources.

The Department

The County of Sonoma County Counsel is the primary provider of legal services to County departments, over 25 special districts, as well as to the Board of Supervisors, the Grand Jury, Ag Preservation and Open Space District, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART), Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA), Sonoma County Retirement Association (SCERA), Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), and the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA). The County Counsel's Office provides legal staff to many County commissions, and its attorneys regularly provide counsel to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Civil Service Commission, and Board Zoning Adjustments at public meetings and hearings. In addition to providing daily advice on issues such as contract compliance, employment conditions, and land use planning, County Counsel attorneys regularly appear in court on behalf of County departments on such matters as juvenile dependency cases, code enforcement actions, bail recovery, and mental health competency hearings. County Counsel either directly handles or coordinates outside counsel in the defense of all claims filed against the County, and proactively works with departments to minimize risk and assist in policy development and implementation.

The Office of approximately 30 attorneys and 10 support staff places a high value on its collegial atmosphere and on its commitment to providing excellent legal work. The Office is structured into four practice groups: Land Use, Health and Human Services, Litigation and Justice, and Infrastructure. Each Group is supervised by a Chief Deputy County Counsel and overall office supervision functions through the Assistant County Counsel and County Counsel. All staff is relied upon to work independently, meet client needs, and exercise sound judgment.