By Nelson A. King
Stating that serving as a
Supreme Court justice is the
highest honor of her career,
a Grenadian American jurist
in Brooklyn says she is “privileged
to serve” and represent
her community and its diverse
needs, as well as the needs of
the entire borough.
“My entire legal career has
been dedicated to serving the
best interests of the public,”
Justice Dena E. Douglas, acting
Supreme Court Justice, New
York State Supreme Court,
Criminal Brooklyn, told Caribbean
Life, in an exclusive interview
over the weekend.
Justice Douglas — whose
family is specifically from Carriacou,
the larger of Grenada’s
two sister isles (the other is
Petite Martinique) — said both
her mother’s and father’s side
of the family are from Carriacou.
She said she is a first-generation
Brooklynite on her father’s
side and second generation on
her mother’s side.
Justice Douglas said her
family migrated to New York
in the 1940s and that she was
born at Brookdale University
Hospital in Brooklyn.
She said her first exposure
and inspiration to pursue a legal
career was through her father,
David Douglas (deceased), an
attorney who represented many
Caribbean families in Brooklyn
in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s.
Justice Douglas first served
for 12 years as an assistant
district attorney in the Kings
County District Attorney’s
Office.
During her tenure in that
office, she rose to the positions
of Deputy Bureau Chief in the
Homicide Bureau and Bureau
Chief of Trial Zone “I”, where
she was responsible for managing
Caribbean L 6 ife, JULY 2-8, 2021
attorneys and high-level
felony matters.
Subsequently, she was a federal
prosecutor in the United
States Department of Justice
Counterterrorism Section and
then a senior advisor to the
Attorney General for the District
of Columbia.
Currently, Justice Douglas
has been a judge for 15 years;
the last six have been as an
Acting Supreme Court Justice
in the Kings County Supreme
Court, Criminal Term.
“My decision-making is
shaped not only by my professional
experiences but also by
my personal experiences and
values,” she said. “My individual
ethics and family values
drive me to achieve fair and
just outcomes for all.”
With respect to the cases
before her, Justice Douglas said
she pays “great care in ensuring
that defendants are afforded
their due process and constitutional
protections.
“I believe diversity on the
bench assures justice for all,”
she said, pointing out that she
was born and raised in Crown
Heights and Flatbush “in a
Caribbean-rich community.
“I have lived, worked and
attended school in other parts
of the borough, and understand
the diverse needs of those who
come before me,” she added.
A highly-respected justice
serving most of her legal career
in Brooklyn, Justice Douglas is
a graduate of St. John’s University
School of Law in Jamaica,
Justice Dena E. Douglas. John Elyse
Queens, earning her juris doctorate
(law degree) in 1991.
She completed her undergraduate
studies in communication
studies at Northwestern
University, in Evanston, Illinois,
graduating in 1987.
Justice Douglas was elected
to the Civil Court in November
2006, by an overwhelming
majority, to represent all districts
in Kings County.
Due to her extensive experience
in criminal law, she
was assigned to the Criminal
Court.
Grenadian American jurist serves
Brooklyn Supreme Court with honor
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