Brooklyn DA’s Office leader Nicole Chavis to receive prestigious Dewey Medal

December 4, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Nicole Chavis, chief of staff at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, will be honored with the prestigious Thomas E. Dewey Medal on Dec. 9. Chavis, who has served in several key leadership roles since joining the office in 2005, is recognized for her dedication to justice and her contributions to public safety in Brooklyn. Left Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office; Right photo: Robert Kradin/AP

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The New York City Bar Association will host the 20th Annual Thomas E. Dewey Medal Presentation on Monday, Dec. 9, recognizing outstanding assistant district attorneys from across New York City. The event will take place in person at the Bar Association’s headquarters in Manhattan.

This year’s honorees include six distinguished prosecutors: David Birnbaum (Bronx County), Nicole Chavis (Kings County), Shannon Lucey (New York County), Mark Osnowitz (Queens County), Darren Albanese (Richmond County), and Marc Stepper (Special Narcotics).

The Dewey Medal, named after legendary prosecutor and former New York County District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey, is awarded annually to assistant district attorneys who exemplify excellence in the pursuit of justice.

Nicole Chavis, chief of staff at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, is among this year’s recipients.

A graduate of John Marshall Law School, Chavis began her legal career in 2003 as an assistant prosecutor in Essex County, New Jersey, before joining the Brooklyn DA’s Office in 2005. She has held several key positions, including Bureau Chief of the Gang Bureau and the Violent Crimes Enterprises Bureau, and assumed her current role in June 2023. Her work has been instrumental in advancing public safety in Brooklyn.

The evening will feature remarks by Muhammad Faridi, president of the New York City Bar Association, and a keynote address from U.S. District Judge Hector Gonzalez of the Eastern District of New York. The awards will be presented by Thomas E. L. Dewey, chair of the Dewey Medal Committee.

Thomas E. Dewey, for whom the medal is named, is remembered for professionalizing the New York County District Attorney’s Office, a legacy that continues to resonate in the work of this year’s honorees. The awards are supported by Dewey Pegno & Kramarsky LLP.