Darcel Clark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Darcel Clark
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| District Attorney of Bronx County | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Darcel Denise Clark
April 2, 1962 New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Boston College (BA) Howard University (JD) |
Darcel Denise Clark (born April 2, 1962) is an American lawyer who has been the Bronx County District Attorney since 2016. A district attorney is the head lawyer for a county who decides if someone should be charged with a crime.
Clark made history by becoming the first woman to ever hold this job in the Bronx. She was also the first woman of color to become a district attorney anywhere in the state of New York.
Before becoming the district attorney, Clark worked as a judge in the New York City Criminal Court and the New York Supreme Court.
Early Life and School
Clark grew up in the Bronx, a part of New York City. She lived in a community called the Soundview Houses. Her father, Daniel, took care of the grounds, and her mother, Viola, was a nurse. Her mother also joined a group of neighbors who worked to keep their community safe.
Clark went to public schools in New York City and graduated from Harry S. Truman High School. She was the very first person in her family to go to college.
She went to Boston College and earned her first degree in 1983. After that, she studied law at Howard University and graduated in 1986 with a law degree.
Career in Law
After finishing law school, Clark returned to the Bronx. She started working as a lawyer in the Bronx County District Attorney's office. She worked for two different district attorneys, Mario Merola and Robert Johnson. From 1993 to 1997, she was a supervisor for a special team. Later, she became a deputy chief in the office.
Becoming a Judge
In 1999, New York City's mayor, Rudy Giuliani, chose Clark to be a Judge for the Criminal Court. She served as a judge there for seven years.
In 2006, she was elected to the New York Supreme Court in the Bronx. Then, in 2012, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed her to an even higher court. This court, called the Appellate Division, reviews decisions made by other judges.
Bronx County District Attorney
In 2015, Clark decided to leave her job as a judge to run for Bronx County District Attorney. The previous district attorney, Robert Johnson, decided to become a judge right after winning his primary election. This caused some discussion, but Clark went on to win the main election in November 2015.
She won easily, getting over 86% of the vote. Her election was a historic moment, as she became the first woman and the first African American to lead the Bronx District Attorney's office.
As the district attorney, Clark promised to make important changes. She wanted to improve the justice system by making sure cases were handled fairly and efficiently.
