PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

September 13, 2004
Contact: William J. Smith (718) 556-7150

District Attorney Donovan Swears-In Staten Island’s 1st Korean-American Prosecutor

STATEN ISLAND, NY- In the Office of the Richmond County District Attorney, a ceremony was held to formally swear-in Joe S. Gim to his position as Richmond County Assistant District Attorney (ADA). The oath was administered by District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. and witnessed by Richmond County Clerk Stephen J. Fiala. Mr. Gim, 25, will become the first Korean-American to serve as an Assistant District Attorney on Staten Island.

“I am delighted to welcome Joe Gim to serve in our Criminal Court Bureau,” stated District Attorney Donovan in announcing the third ADA to join his staff since taking office in January. “The people of Staten Island will be well served by his education, experience and dedication to public service.”

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Mr. Gim is in the process of relocating from Astoria, Queens to Staten Island. He is joining the District Attorney’s office from the Manhattan law firm of Paul Weiss. A speaker of Korean, he has been admitted to the bar in the states of New York and Maryland.

"There are few opportunities in this world to make a difference, a real difference, I am grateful to now have an opportunity to help make that difference for the Staten Island community,” stated Mr. Gim. “I am excited to join District Attorney Donovan's office in striving to make 'justice for all' a reality to the residents of Staten Island."

Mr. Gim earned a B.A. in International Economics from George Washington University and received his Juris Doctorate from the Fordham University School of Law. While at Fordham, he was a recipient of the Archibald Murray Public Service Award and was a teaching assistant and student mentor in the Academic Enrichment Program. He brings to the office his experience gained from interning with the New York County District Attorney’s Office (Frauds Bureau), the Lincoln Square Legal Services of Fordham Law School Criminal Defense Clinic, as well as with the Honorable Charles E. Ramos, New York State Supreme Court Commercial Division.

Joe Gim will be paid $42,500 in his position.

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