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 |
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| 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 and prosecutor. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government. Their job is to bring legal cases against people accused of crimes.
Since 2016, she has been the Bronx County District Attorney. This means she is the chief prosecutor for the Bronx area in New York City. Darcel Clark is the first woman to hold this important job. She is also the first woman of color to be a district attorney anywhere in New York State.
Before becoming the District Attorney, Clark worked as a judge. She served on the New York City Criminal Court. Later, she became a judge on the New York Supreme Court in the Bronx. She also served in the Appellate Division of that court.
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Who is Darcel Clark?
Darcel Clark is a very important person in the legal world. She makes sure that justice is served in the Bronx. Her work helps keep the community safe and fair for everyone.
Growing Up in the Bronx
Darcel Clark grew up right in the Bronx, New York. She lived in the Soundview Houses area. Her father, Daniel, helped take care of parks and grounds. Her mother, Viola, was a nurse. Her mom also helped keep their neighborhood safe. She was part of a group called the tenant patrol.
Darcel went to public schools in New York City. She graduated from Harry S. Truman High School in the Bronx. She was the first person in her family to go to college.
Her Path to Law
After high school, Darcel Clark went to Boston College. She earned her Bachelor's degree there in 1983. Then, she decided to study law. She attended Howard University Law School. She finished law school in 1986.
Becoming a Judge
After law school, Darcel Clark came back to the Bronx. She started working as an assistant district attorney. This meant she helped the main District Attorney with legal cases. She worked for Mario Merola and then for Robert Johnson.
In 1999, the Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, chose her to be a judge. She became a judge for the New York City Criminal Court. She worked there for seven years. In 2006, Darcel Clark was elected to the New York Supreme Court. She served as a Supreme Court judge in the Bronx. In 2012, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed her to an even higher court. She became an Associate Justice in the Appellate Division.
Leading the Bronx District Attorney's Office
In 2015, Darcel Clark decided to leave her job as a judge. She wanted to run for District Attorney of the Bronx. The previous District Attorney, Robert Johnson, decided to step down. Darcel Clark won the election easily in November 2015. She received a very large number of votes.
She made history by becoming the first woman to hold this position. She is also the first African American person to be the Bronx District Attorney.
Making a Difference
As the District Attorney, Darcel Clark has promised to make important changes. She wants to make sure that people who are innocent are not wrongly accused. She also works to make sure legal cases move quickly. She is also working to improve conditions at places like Rikers Island. Her goal is to make the justice system better for everyone in the Bronx.
