Bronx District Attorney-Elect Darcel Clark Announces Transition Chairs, Sub-Committees

Bronx District Attorney-Elect
Darcel Clark Announces Transition Chairs,
Sub-Committees

     Bronx District Attorney-elect Darcel Clark announced her Chairpersons for her Transition Committee, as well as the establishment of subcommittees to further prepare for the beginning of her administration onJanuary 1st.  

Daniel E. Karson, Chairman of Kroll and former General Counsel and Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Investigation of the City of New York, and Taa Grays, Chief of Staff to MetLife’s General Counsel, were named by Clark as Co-Chairs of the 40-member transition team. Karson and Grays will lead all efforts to implement the District Attorney’s priorities of greater transparency, accountability and responsiveness throughout the office.

Along with his experience at Kroll and at the City’s Department of Investigation, Karson was born and raised in the Bronx and also worked as a Bronx Assistant District Attorney serving as Chief of Narcotics Investigations.

Prior to beginning her time at MetLife twelve years ago, Grays served as a Bronx Assistant District Attorney in its Rackets Bureau for five and a half years. She is also very active in the legal community and holds leadership positions with several organizations, including president of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association.

“In our Co-Chairs, we have two individuals who started their careers as Bronx Assistant District Attorneys,” said DA-elect Clark. “Not only do they understand the Bronx and this office, but their wealth of experience will be a tremendous asset in assisting me as I prepare to take office.”

Subcommittees

In addition to the announcement of Co-Chairs, Clark also announced the creation of subcommittees and chairs to further organize tasks and priorities throughout the transition.  They include:

• The Subcommittee on Community Affairs and Chair Wayne McKenzie, General Counsel for the NYC Department of Probation (DOP).
• The Subcommittee on Internal Review and Chair Catherine Christian, Co-Director of Legal Training and Chief of the Elder Abuse Unit in Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance’s Office.
• The Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Chair Marvin Ray Raskin, who also serves as Chairman of the Criminal Courts Committee of the Bronx County Bar Association.
• The Subcommittee on Recruitment and Chair Teresa Mason,  a partner with Bahn Multer LLP.
• The Subcommittee on the Inauguration and Chair Joyce Hartsfield, who also is the Executive Director of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission.  

Additional Committee Members

Clark also announced an additional three members who Clark believes will further add to an already stellar group of experienced and distinguished attorneys and community leaders.

Rabbi Barry Dov Katz has served the Bronx community at the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale since 1998.  Rabbi Katz has worked with members of the congregation to further the inclusion of people with special needs, in welcoming LGBT individuals and families, and in forming a social group for Jewish 20’s and 30’s in the Bronx.  Rabbi Katz served as President of the Riverdale-Kingsbridge-Spuyten Duyvil Clergy Conference and as co-chair of the Bronx Borough President's Jewish-Hispanic Task Force, and is also an Adjunct Lecturer of Professional and Pastoral Skills at the Jewish Theological Seminary.  

Chauncey Parker serves as an Executive Assistant District Attorney and Special Policy Advisor to New York County District Attorney Cy Vance, and also serves as the Director of the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. Parker notably also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as the Director of Criminal Justice for New York State, and as Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services under Governor George E. Pataki.

Bishop Nancy Rosario is the co-founder of Church of God’s Children in Co-op City, and also is the founder of R&R Team Management, a Women Owned Minority Business.  She also has served as the Legal Representative at Bronx Housing Court for Riverbay Corporation for over 31 years. Bishop Rosario is a leader in advocating for HIV & Hep C testing and Domestic Violence Awareness, and also serves as the clergy liaison for for the NYPD Grandmother’s Love over Violence.   

“As with all of the transition team, I’m grateful for their willingness to serve on this committee, and look forward to their keen insight on how to make this office work best for all the people in the Bronx,” Clark added.

For a list of the full Transition Committee, please click here.  For those who are interested in being considered for a position within the Office of Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, please send resumes and cover letters totransitionbxda@gmail.com.