John Van de Kamp, 28th Attorney General

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Photo of John Van de Kamp
Formerly an Asst. U.S. Attorney and District Attorney of Los Angeles. He was also a member of the famous Van de Kamp family which operated bakeries and Lawry’s Restaurants in southern California. Van de Kamp’s administration created the Public Rights Division, giving new emphasis to environmental, consumer protection, anti-trust and civil rights enforcement.

Reorganized, renamed and expanded the Bureau of Medical Fraud, and created a separate Correctional Law Section within the Criminal Law Division. He helped modernize DOJ's scientific and technological resources, including development of the CAL-ID Program as well as the beginning efforts at DNA forensic investigation. Sponsored the Trial Court Delay Reduction Act and the California AIDS Drug Testing Program.