Doug Pearson was recently appointed interim District Attorney (DA) following former DA Jeff Hunt stepping down to accept a special superior court judgeship.

Pearson said he believes in upholding the Constitution with a fair, balanced approach that treats everyone equally.

“I really enjoy the opportunity to represent the state in cases in front of a jury,” he said.

He’s benefited from a supportive family and the example set by his father, a veterinarian, and his mother, a school psychologist. They raised him and his brother with a strong work ethic, he said.

“My wife, Sarah, has been the biggest factor in my life,” Pearson said. “She understands what I do and helps me balance work with family.”

Pearson also benefits enormously from the excellence of his team members, he said. The district attorney’s office, District 29B, covers Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties. Pearson praised the Polk County staff, particularly assistant district attorneys Tripp Griffin and Rick Daniel.

“I have a very diligent group of attorneys working with me, always available to law enforcement,” he said. “A lot of our assistant district attorneys think outside the box. They’re creative, with knowledge of how technology can better serve the public and better serve law enforcement.”

Popular shows like CSI distort what it’s really like to do the work, he said. On those shows, cases get discovered and solved in a single hour, when the actual effort takes much more time.

“A lot of times, jurors watch programs and expect us to have technology that may not exist in real life,” he said. “For most citizens sitting as a juror in a jury trial may be their only involvement with the criminal justice system. Sitting as a juror is a unique opportunity to see what happens.”