DALLAS COUNTY, Texas — Craig Watkins, who served as Dallas County's district attorney from 2007-2015, has died, according to Russell Wilson, a former DA team member.
Wilson says Watkins passed away Tuesday morning at his Dallas home. He was 56-years-old.
"The Watkins family appreciates all the community calls and outreach of support. The family would ask that you respect their privacy at this time."
Watkins won his office in the Democratic landslide in 2006 making him the first Black District Attorney for Dallas County.
During his term, he is most known for helping restore the faith in the justice system by freeing wrongfully imprisoned inmates. Watkins was the first DA in the United States to formally establish a Conviction Integrity Unit which helped exonerate dozens of wrongly convicted inmates in Dallas County.
“Craig Watkins was a trailblazer for using DNA to look at old cases and people who had been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for years,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins to WFAA. “Through that and other programs, he restored many people's faith in the justice system in Dallas County.”
There were several controversies surrounding Watkins' tenure. Ultimately Republican Susan Hawk defeated him in 2015 and took office in 2016.
After leaving the Dallas County DA’s office, Watkins returned to private practice.
Following the announcement of Watkins' passing, Dallas COunty Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot sent WFAA a statement:
“I am saddened to learn of the passing of my former colleague Craig Watkins. Craig was bright and ambitious and for his life to end so prematurely is a tragedy, however, he leaves behind a powerful legacy. He made history as the first elected African-American district attorney in Texas. His fierce focus on the prosecution of child abuse cases and his creation of the first Conviction Integrity Unit in the nation are testaments to his vision and ability to effect change. Craig was perfectly human, and those who knew him are better for it. I am proud to have known him, to have worked with him, and to have been elected to the same office he held. He will be missed.”
The visitation for Watkins will be on Sunday, Dec. 17 from 2-7 p.m at Paradise Funeral Home on 3910 S. Lancaster Rd.
The funeral service will be on Monday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. at Concord Church on 6808 Pastor Bailey Dr. The burial will follow at 1 p.m. at 6000 R.L. Thornton Fwy.
You can learn more about the funeral arrangements here.