Eric Gonzalez (lawyer)
| Eric Gonzalez | |
|---|---|
| Kings County District Attorney | |
|
In office October 9, 2016 – incumbent | |
| Preceded by | Kenneth P. Thompson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Brooklyn, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Brooklyn, New York |
| Alma mater |
Cornell University University of Michigan School of Law |
| Known for | First Latino Kings County District Attorney |
Eric Gonzalez is the acting Kings County district attorney in Brooklyn, New York.
Early years
Gonzalez grew up in the neighborhoods of East New York and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, and attended John Dewey High School in the Coney Island section. He graduated from Cornell University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a dual major in government and history. In 1995, he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was president of the Latino Law Students Association.[1]
Legal career
He began his legal career immediately after graduating law school in 1995 as an assistant district attorney in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. After spending several years as a junior and then senior assistant in different bureaus, including the Sex Crimes and Special Victims Bureau, Domestic Violence Bureau, Orange Trial Zone Bureau, and Green Trial Zone Bureau, Mr. Gonzalez was promoted to supervisory positions in the Green Trial Zone, which consists of the 60th, 61st, 70th, 71st, and 72nd precincts in Brooklyn.[2] In 2011, he became the Executive Assistant District Attorney of the Green Trial Zone, and in March 2014 he was promoted to the position of Counsel to the District Attorney, where he guided the launch of several of District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson's initiatives, including the creation of the Conviction Review Unit and the policy regarding the non-prosecution of many low-level marijuana possession cases. In October 2014, he was appointed Chief Assistant District Attorney by Thompson.[1]
On October 4, 2016, Thompson announced that he had cancer, and that Gonzalez was to serve as acting district attorney during his absences for treatment.[3] When Thompson died just five days later on October 9, Gonzalez became acting district attorney.[4] A week later, on October 17, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he was not appointing an interim district attorney or calling an election, so that Gonzalez could serve the remainder of Thompson's term and continue his work.[5]
Gonzalez is a member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association and is also on the Board of Directors of the Kings County Criminal Bar Association.[6]
Personal life
Gonzalez lives in Brooklyn with his wife and three sons and is a Cub Scout Den Leader.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 "Acting Brooklyn D.A. Eric Gonzalez". brooklynda.org. Kings County District Attorney's Office. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ↑ "Trial Zones". brooklynda.org. Kings County District Attorney's Office. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ↑ Feuer, Alan (October 5, 2016). "Ken Thompson, Brooklyn District Attorney, Says He Has Cancer and Will Take Leave". New York Times. p. A17. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ↑ Feuer, Alan (October 10, 2016). "Ken Thompson, Brooklyn District Attorney, Dies After Disclosing Cancer". New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ↑ Feuer, Alan (October 18, 2016). "Cuomo Declines to Appoint Successor for Brooklyn District Attorney". New York Times. p. A18. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ↑ "Cuomo Opts To Stay With Gonzalez As District Attorney". kingscountypolitics.com. Kings County Politics. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
| Preceded by Kenneth P. Thompson |
District Attorney of Kings County, New York 2016 – |
Succeeded by incumbent |