An experienced courtroom litigator and lifelong San Franciscan, Paul Henderson has served since 2011 as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Public Safety Liaison in Mayor Edwin Lee’s Administration. Paul serves as a principal adviser to the Mayor and is responsible for the development and implementation of policy across a broad range of issues affecting our City. Paul supports the management of various City departments, providing direct support to the Mayor with an emphasis on the criminal justice system working with local, State and Federal partners.
Prior to joining the Mayor’s office, Paul served as Chief of Administration for then District Attorney Kamala Harris, and trial prosecutor for the City of San Francisco, where he successfully handled every type of case in the criminal justice system, from nonviolent misdemeanors to serious felonies, including homicide. As Chief Administrator, Paul held the highest position ever held by an African-American male attorney at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
In addition to his record of courtroom success as a seasoned prosecutor, Mr. Henderson also has years of criminal pro tem superior court judicial experience, and civil appellate experience as an appointed hearing officer.
RESPECTED THOUGHTFUL LEADER
In a state poll, Paul was twice voted as one of California’s “Super-Lawyers,” and has been recognised as one of the state’s most astute legal minds by California Lawyer magazine. He is a standing member of the national faculty for the U.S. Department of Justice and frequent speaker for the American Bar Association (ABA). Last summer, Paul was called to the White House to contribute to the emerging agenda on nationwide justice reforms.
NATIVE SAN FRANCISCAN
Paul grew up blocks away from the San Francisco housing projects, where law enforcement was often seen as an adversary. He rejected the notion, however, that relationship between underserved communities and the justice system must be one of conflict. Through his success working to protect victims of violent crimes and representing communities without a voice in the courtroom, Mr. Henderson has made lasting impacts on the San Francisco Bay Area.
Paul attended San Francisco schools and earned his undergraduate degree from UCLA before obtaining his law degree at Tulane University, where he served as president of his class. Mr. Henderson is a passionate advocate for both civil rights and public safety. Presently Paul serves on the boards of several nonprofit agencies and was recently appointed to a prominent committee with the State Bar by the Board of Governors.
