Portland, OR - Mat Heck,
Montgomery County Prosecuting Attorney, passed the NDAA
Presidential gavel to James P. Fox, District Attorney, San Mateo
County, CA on July 30, 2007. Mr. Heck will serve as Chairman of
the NDAA Board of Directors from July 2007 to July 2008.
As NDAA President, one of
Mr. Heck’s goals was to increase membership. This year, that
goal was met as NDAA’s membership increased 6%, over 400 new
members, during the past year – the highest increase in NDAA’s
history. In addition to increasing the size of the
organization, the face of NDAA’s membership has begun to
transform. Minority membership recruitment was a goal Mr. Heck
set for this year. Steps toward increasing minority presence in
NDAA were achieved this year by seating the Presidents of the
National Black Prosecutors Association and National Hispanic
Prosecutors Association on the Board of Directors. As Board
members, the Presidents of these organizations will strengthen
the voice of the African American and Hispanic populations in
NDAA so that it may better represent the needs of our diverse
nation. Equally significant, five additional minority member
DA’s have been elected to the Board of Directors.
As President, Mr. Heck worked with state and federal legislators
concerning various issues including the passing of legislation
to help law students who become prosecutors and public defenders
repay a portion of their student loans. In January of this
year, Senator Durbin introduced the John R. Justice Prosecutors
and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007. This bill brings
bipartisan support in the efforts to recruit and retain
qualified prosecutors. The bill provides for student loan
repayment (up to $10,000/year) for prosecutors and public
defenders who commit themselves to public service for at least
three years. It remains imperative that these young lawyers
aren’t forced to leave these satisfying careers for higher
paying jobs within private law firms at many times the salary
they are making, because they just can’t afford to support
themselves and their families and repay their student loans.
The American Bar Association and the National Association of
Criminal Defense Lawyers joined the NDAA in supporting this
important initiative, which
passed in the Senate with a 95-0 vote. The House does not have
a companion bill but has already passed a similar student loan
bill for prosecutors and public defenders.
Heck said, “My year as
NDAA President has passed so quickly. I’ve had the pleasure of
meeting prosecutors from across America, Canada and Europe. I am
always humbled by their commitment to the communities they
serve. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as
President of the Nation’s Prosecutors, and I’m grateful to the
NDAA Board members for giving me this opportunity.”
The NDAA has over 7,000
members who represent over 30,000 prosecutors nationwide. Over
95% of the nation’s criminals are prosecuted by state and local
prosecutors.
Mr. Heck is married to
Cynthia M. Heck, Vandalia Municipal Court Judge, and they have
two children.
