FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 25, 2024)—The Texas District & County Attorneys Association (TDCAA) is proud to announce the hiring of a new executive director, its first in more than 20 years.
Mr. Shannon Edmonds, currently TDCAA’s Director of Government Relations, was named the next executive director after a months-long search. The current executive director, Rob Kepple, announced his retirement effective at the end of 2024.
Erleigh Wiley, TDCAA Board President and the elected Criminal District Attorney in Kaufman County, headed up the statewide search for a new ED, appointing a selection committee of several former and current Texas prosecutors. The committee also commissioned a survey of TDCAA’s membership (all Texas prosecutor office personnel—more than 6,500 people) to gather their opinions about the association and its future needs, which shaped the committee’s search for ED candidates.
In the end, the right person for the job was already on the TDCAA staff.
“I am thrilled to welcome Shannon Edmonds as our new Executive Director for TDCAA,” Ms. Wiley said. “Shannon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. I am confident that his leadership will be instrumental in advancing TDCAA’s goals and furthering our impact in the legal community.”
Mr. Kepple, who has been TDCAA’s executive director for 22 years, added, “Shannon understands the mission of this great group of prosecutors and brings tremendous energy and skill to the position.”
Mr. Edmonds is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and a longtime public servant. He worked in both the County Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office in Travis County, the Office of the Governor under the Honorable George W. Bush, and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor under the Honorable Bill Ratliff. Since 2002, he has worked at TDCAA primarily as a liaison between state prosecutors and the Texas Legislature.
“Under the stewardship of Rob Kepple, TDCAA has become one of the premier prosecutor associations in the country,” Mr. Edmonds said. “I am grateful that our leadership has chosen me to help them build upon that legacy, and I look forward to what the future holds for our organization.”
TDCAA is the largest association of local prosecutors and staff in the nation with more than 6,500 members. It serves Texas prosecutor office personnel with continuing legal education through live conferences and online courses, technical assistance, legislative assistance, and legal publications. It is based in Austin.
For more information, contact Sarah Halverson at [email protected] or 512/474-2436.