Mayor-Elect Bill de Blasio has appointed former Brooklyn US Attorney Zachary Carter to become the city’s top lawyer.
The incoming mayor said that as the head of the city’s Law Department Carter will help the administration execute its progressive agenda — such as expanding paid sick leave, and creating new affordable housing mandates and protecting community healthcare.
“If anyone has worked to end the tale of two cities, that person is Zach Carter,” de Blasio said.
As head of Brooklyn’s Eastern District federal prosecutor’s office from 1993 to 1999, Carter oversaw the Abner Louima police torture case, the Crown Heights civil rights trial, and prosecution of mob boss Vincent Gigante.
“Throughout my career in public service and in private practice, I tried to use the law to level the playing field for those seeking equal access for justice and opportunity,” Carter said.
He is a partner at Dorsey & Whitney and recently has defended state Sen. John Sampson, who is accused of embezzling nearly $500,000 of escrow money that he was supposed to safeguard in the sale of foreclosed homes in Brooklyn while acting as a court-appointed referee.
Carter, 63, is a graduate of Cornell University and New York University School of Law. He lives in Westchester County but will be moving to the city, a de Blasio spokesman said.
Following Carter’s announcement, de Blasio reiterated his decision to drop the city’s appeal of a ruling that will impose strict new limits and guidelines to the use of stop-and-frisk -– a central theme of his campaign – saying “the judge is right about the reforms we need to make.”
He also said the city will settle a lawsuit surrounding the Central Park Five case, in which five Harlem teens were convicted of the 1989 rape of a white Central Park jogger based on flimsy confessions, because “a huge injustice was done.”