David J. Smith

David J. Smith serves as Acting County Counsel for the County of San Diego.

Following the retirement of Claudia Silva, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to appoint David J. Smith as Acting County Counsel.  

Smith brings more than three decades of legal experience, including over 20 years serving the people of San Diego County. He previously held the role of Acting County Counsel in 2021 and served as Chief Deputy County Counsel for more than seven years.   

Smith currently serves as the County’s Chief Information Officer, where he leads the County Technology Office and represents San Diego on national technology leadership boards. He holds a law degree from UC Davis and a bachelor’s in political science and history from UCLA.   

The recruitment process for a permanent County Counsel will commence soon.