Cal. Government Code - GOV § 26540. Section 26540.
A district attorney shall not during his incumbency defend or assist in the defense of, or act as counsel for, any person accused of any crime in any county.
ARTICLE 3. Restrictions [26540. - 26543.]
Cal. Government Code - GOV 3.
in effectCal. Government Code - GOV § 26541. Section 26541.
A district attorney shall not during his incumbency defend or assist in the defense of, or act as counsel for, any defendant in any eminent domain action or proceeding in which the State or any state agency is a party plaintiff in the county in which he holds office, except when the county or county officer in his official capacity is defendant.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 26542. Section 26542.
If the office of district attorney is vacant the duties of the office may be temporarily discharged by a chief deputy district attorney, assistant or deputy district attorney, as the case may be, next in authority to the district attorney, in office at the time the vacancy occurs, with like authority and subject to the same obligations and penalties as the district attorney, until the vacancy in the office is filled in the manner provided by law.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 26543. Section 26543.
A district attorney or county counsel shall not during his incumbency act as counsel for any private plaintiff in any action or proceeding in which a city, district, or political subdivision of the State is a party defendant.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026