Vernon Grigg is the son of two public school teachers who taught him the importance of education, commitment, hard work and community. He and his wife Denise are dedicated to passing these core values on to their two young daughters.

Vernon has had a long and successful career of public service in San Francisco, including working as a Prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office, serving as a Commissioner on the San Francisco Human Rights and Housing Commissions, and serving as Vice President of the Citywide Drug Abuse Advisory Board. He also has served on the boards of a number of youth mentorship and educational programs.

Vernon was raised in a military family. His father was a highly-decorated Army Officer for 22 years before

becoming a high school teacher and elementary school principal. His mother taught in public elementary schools for 31 years, also serving both as a teacher and later as a principal.

As a child, Vernon and his family visited the Bay Area often. His sister, Nicole, a freelance journalist for a major local television station, and brother Dana, a small business owner, also have made San Francisco their home.

After graduating from high school, Vernon won an academic scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he earned a degree in economics with Honors. He continued his education at the London School of Economics before entering Yale Law School.

While at Yale, Vernon dedicated a year to researching the legal rights of children living in countries at war, studying first under Supreme Court Justices in South Africa during Apartheid and later in Israel during the Intifada. For this work, Yale

awarded Vernon the Orville H. Schell Fellowship in International Human Rights. These experiences convinced him that the most effective way to improve the world is to start with one’s own community.
After graduating from law school, Vernon served a successful clerkship with San Francisco Federal District Chief Judge Thelton Henderson. He later joined the noted law firm of Keker & Van Nest in San Francisco where he practiced for four years. With a desire to serve his community, Vernon then joined the San Francisco District Attorney’s office. While at the D.A.’s office, Vernon prosecuted crimes of all types, from misdemeanors to homicides. After a string of trial victories, Vernon became the youngest person promoted to the rank of Managing Attorney.

During his tenure, Vernon managed the narcotics, vice, insurance fraud and high tech crime units. He also expanded the Drug Court program in San Francisco and launched the D.A.’s Mentor Court program, a successful program for first time nonviolent narcotics offenders who are given the option of avoiding jail time if they successfully complete educational and vocational training milestones.

Vernon is a licensed pilot, a bicyclist, a fisherman, and a dog owner. He enjoys spending time with his family as well as the occasional round of golf at Harding Park.