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Joseph Alexis honored as outstanding ADA by NYC Bar Association

December 8, 2016 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Acting District Attorney Joseph Alexis has been with the Brooklyn DA’s Office since 1991 and has worked on some of its biggest cases over the last 25 years. Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office
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A Brooklyn prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Joseph Alexis, was honored with the Thomas E. Dewey Award by the New York City Bar Association during a ceremony on Tuesday night in Manhattan. The award is given to an outstanding ADA in each of the city’s District Attorney offices.

“I am very pleased to announce that Joseph Alexis is a recipient of the 2016 Thomas E. Dewey Medal,” Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. “Joe embodies the ideals that Thomas E. Dewey himself valued so highly in a prosecutor — integrity, fearlessness, fairness and excellence.”

Alexis, who has been with the Brooklyn DA’s Office for more than 25 years, handles some of the department’s toughest cases including the successful prosecution of former NYPD Officer Peter Liang for the shooting death of Akai Gurley.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized by my peers, the NYC Bar Association and by the Dewey family,” Alexis told the Brooklyn Eagle. “I’m grateful to Eric Gonzalez for nominating me and for many people for giving me the opportunities to perform. This truly is a tremendous honor.”

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Alexis was honored for the work he’s done throughout his long career, but noted that he is excited about the future of his position while working under Gonzalez.

“It’s nice to be honored for the work you’ve done during your career,” Alexis said. “I’m even more excited for the future of the work that I’ll be doing for the Acting DA Eric Gonzalez. I’m excited for what the future [has in store] for him and for us.”

Alexis, who is originally from Crown Heights, started working for the DA’s Office in 1991. He still lives in Crown Heights today.

“I grew up in a vibrant neighborhood. It was and still is vibrant,” Alexis said. “The best part of this job is that it allows me to do things that I love. It demonstrates my skill as a trial lawyer and I do it for the community, the people I live with and see every day. There is nothing better than being able to work and live with the people I care very much about and who care for me.”

Alexis was recently promoted to chief of the trial division earlier this month. In that capacity, he oversees the work of the DA Office’s five trial zone bureaus and some of the specialized trial bureaus. Previously, Alexis had served as chief of the Red Zone Trial Bureau, which encompasses East New York, Cypress Hills, Canarsie and other areas of Brooklyn.


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