Daniel R. Primus graduated from law school at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and then went into private practice for a year in Salem until a position came open in his home town of Pendleton, Oregon. He was a Umatilla County Deputy District Attorney for three years before being appointed District Attorney on August 3rd, 2011, and then was elected the District Attorney of Umatilla County on November 8, 2011, and continues on in his current position. He serves as President of the Oregon District Attorneys Association, Inc., a voluntary association of the 36 district attorneys, deputy district attorneys, Oregon assistant attorneys general, district attorney office managers and the U.S. Attorneys serving in Oregon.