Dallas County District Attorney-elect Susan Hawk gave a speech to supporters after winning a close race against incumbent District Attorney Craig Watkins on Nov. 4. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)
Bill Wirskye (Provided)
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In her first major move since winning the heated Dallas County District Attorney race last week, Susan Hawk on Thursday announced her choice for first assistant district attorney, the top aide that will serve as her right hand.
Bill Wirskye, a defense attorney who previously worked as a top prosecutor at the DA’s office, will become Hawk’s first assistant when she takes over as district attorney in January.
“Our first objective is to restore experience and integrity to our DA’s office, and Bill Wirskye embodies those qualities,” Hawk said in a press release.
Selecting Wirskye as her top assistant is the first of several staffing changes Hawk is expected to make as she culls a group of supporters at the courthouse, and her choice offers an initial glimpse at how she plans to run the DA’s office.
Defense attorney Robbie McClung said Wirskye is a “familiar” choice that indicates Hawk doesn’t plan to make drastic changes right away. She said Wirskye’s even-keeled temperament and knowledge of the courthouse should ease concerns among prosecutors who fear losing their jobs when Hawk takes over.
“It says this is not going to be a big fruit basket turn over,” McClung said.
Hawk, a Republican, defeated incumbent District Attorney Craig Watkins, a Democrat, in what was one of the closest and most-watched races in Dallas County. Hawk is set to become the county’s first female district attorney.
Hawk met Wirskye when they both worked in the Dallas County DA’s office. Wirskye began his career there, eventually becoming felony chief prosecutor and chief homicide prosecutor. He left for private practice in 2006 and became a partner at Shook, Gunter & Wirskye, a criminal defense firm in Dallas.
Most recently, he has served as a special prosecutor in the trial of a Kaufman County man accused of killing Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife and top assistant prosecutor. That case is scheduled to go to trial next month.
Wirskye said Thursday that he looks forward to working with Hawk to restore integrity in the DA’s office.
“Susan is very big picture and very innovative and I think I can complement her and try to follow through and translate her vision for the office to all the assistants,” he said Thursday.
Though he will be giving up his private practice, Wirskye said he is excited to return to the DA’s office.
“Much like Susan, my heart has always been in public service and the Dallas DA’s office means so much to both of us,” he said. “You just can’t pass up the opportunity to go back to place you love and try to make it the best in the nation.”