New York - November 13, 2024: The Prosecutors Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) hosted its 16th Anniversary Reception at the Appellate Division, First Department, 27 Madison Avenue, Manhattan today. AABANY presented Bridget G. Brennan, Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York and former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding public service, dedication to diversity, and her support of the AABANY Prosecutors Committee since its inception in 2008.
Bridget G. Brennan made history in 1998 as the first woman appointed New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, leading a team of 200 attorneys, investigators, and professionals. The agency is at the forefront of prosecuting serious narcotics and related crimes throughout the city’s five boroughs. Under Ms. Brennan’s leadership, the office has developed innovative strategies to stem the flow of drugs into the city, target violent drug distribution rings, and prosecute drug sellers linked to overdose deaths. The office has also expanded alternatives to incarceration initiatives and community and educational outreach efforts and enhanced its post-conviction review process. The organization strives to reduce the demand for narcotics by raising public awareness and facilitating alternatives to incarceration and drug treatment. It collaborates with educators and drug treatment providers and is deeply committed to ensuring that our criminal justice system is fair for all.
Throughout her tenure, Ms. Brennan implemented strategies to meet challenges posed by each phase of the deadly opioid epidemic. She established specialized units, including the Heroin Interdiction Team, the Digital Forensics and Litigation Unit, the Criminal and Investigative Analysts Unit, the Prescription Drug Investigation Unit, the Narcotics Gangs Unit, the Money Laundering and Financial Investigation Unit, the Community Outreach Unit, the Discovery Compliance and Litigation Unit, and the Post Judgment Litigation Committee.
Ms. Brennan’s career in law began in 1983 with the New York County District Attorney’s Office, where she was designated both a homicide and sex crimes prosecutor before advancing to Deputy Chief of a financial crimes bureau. She joined the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office in 1992, serving first as Chief of the Special Investigations Bureau and then as Chief Assistant, before taking the helm as the Special Narcotics Prosecutor. A former print, radio, and television reporter from Wisconsin, with degrees in Journalism and Law from the University of Wisconsin, Ms. Brennan is widely recognized for her expertise and leadership, frequently speaking at national and international conferences on narcotics crime and receiving honors from legal and community organizations.
“Bridget Brennan’s dedication to public service and her relentless pursuit of justice have left a lasting mark on New York City and communities nationwide,” said Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director. “For over two decades, she has led groundbreaking initiatives to combat drug-related crimes and reduce harm in our communities. Bridget’s career exemplifies resilience, integrity, and compassion, and she has been an inspiring ally to AABANY from the very beginning of our Prosecutors Committee. We are thrilled to honor her legacy at this year’s reception and celebrate her many contributions to justice and equality.”
The event brought together Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) prosecutors from across New York City’s five District Attorney’s Offices, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and Federal prosecutors from the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Over the sixteen-year history of this annual Reception, AABANY has been privileged to honor the following:
2009 Robert Morgenthau, Manhattan District Attorney
2010 Preet Bharara, United States Attorney, SDNY
2011 Hon. Randall Eng (1st NYC/Queens County APIDA ADA)
John Flock (1st Kings County APIDA ADA)
Hugh Mo (1st NY County APIDA ADA)
2012 Sandra Leung, Bristol Myers Squibb (former NY County ADA)
Thomas Chan, Chief, NYPD (1st APIDA Two-Star Chief)
2013 Hon. Pamela Chen, United States District Court, EDNY
Hon. Lorna Schofield, United States District Court, SDNY
2014 Wen-Ting Chen, ICE General Counsel
Belle Chan, Special Agent, FBI
2015 Joon Kim, Deputy U.S. Attorney, SDNY
Wenjian Liu, Detective, NYPD (posthumous award)
2016 Hon. Alexander Jeong, NYS Court of Claims, Deputy Admin. Judge
Diane Gujarati, Deputy U.S. Attorney, SDNY
2017 Hon. Danny Chun, Deputy Admin. Judge, Kings County Supreme Court
Ellen Chang, Deputy Chief, NYPD (highest ranking APIDA female)
2018 Congresswoman Grace Meng
2019 Bridget Brennan, NYC Special Narcotics Prosecutor
Jesse Sligh, Executive ADA, Queens County DA’s Office
(The Prosecutors Committee Reception was not held from 2020 through 2023 due to the pandemic and recovery from it.)
In addition to honoring Ms. Brennan, the event featured distinguished guests, including Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Executive Assistant District Attorneys, along with prominent State and Federal judges, community leaders, and other legal professionals.Additional information about AABANY is available at www.aabany.org
