KINGSTON — Ulster County District Attorney David Clegg announced Wednesday that Emmanuel Nneji will become his office’s new Chief Assistant District Attorney.
Nneji, whose career with the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office began as an intern in 1990, previously served as chief assistant under District Attorney Donald Williams. Nneji brings over three decades of the highest level of felony trial experience to the position, said Clegg.
The appointment of Nneji is part of a larger office realignment in response to challenges presented by recently enacted criminal justice reforms. Last month, the office established a new “Discovery & Records Unit” to alleviate the burdens of discovery disclosure and help bring the office into the twenty-first century with more efficient case management and greater transparency and accountability.
“I want to thank Chief Assistant District Attorney Katherine Van Loan for the incredible effort she’s given to helping to run this office over the difficult last 18 months, and for her 22 years of service and dedication to this office and the people of Ulster County.” She will be leaving the office in August.
The compounding effects of the record high caseloads due to COVID-related court closures, legal discovery obligations mandated by reform legislation, and a surge of serious violent crime have placed additional burdens on prosecutors’ offices across the state, including Ulster County, said Clegg.
In partnership with County Executive Pat Ryan, the office established Restorative Ulster, a restorative justice program for the resolution and diversion of low-level non-violent criminal cases of young adult offenders. In response to a rise in domestic violence during COVID-19, the office accelerated the expansion of its Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Program into Saugerties and New Paltz, the first phase in a planned countywide expansion.
