Three Deputies Eyed for Brooklyn U.S. Prosecutor Job

Two former deputies to Loretta Lynch, who has been nominated as the next U.S. attorney general, are front-runners for her old job as the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, according to people familiar with the matter.

The leading candidate to become the next U.S. attorney in Brooklyn is Christina Dugger, currently associate general counsel at JPMorgan Chase, while Marshall Miller, now at the Justice Department’s criminal division, is also a contender for the position.

Lynch’s current deputy, Kelly Currie, is a third candidate. Lynch decided to make him her deputy in an office with a long history of the second-in-command taking over as acting U.S. attorney. Currie’s chances to permanently lead the Brooklyn office increase if Lynch’s confirmation hearings are contentious and President Barack Obama wants to avoid further conflict for the last two years of his term, the sources said.

U.S. attorneys are nominated by the president, often in consultation with a senator from the state with the vacancy. They are confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans beginning in January.

Among the first big tasks for Lynch’s replacement may be the federal civil rights probe of the death of a Staten Island man who died during an arrest attempt.

In addition to Brooklyn, the Eastern District of New York includes the New York boroughs of Queens, Staten Island and suburban Long Island.

This article appeared in print on page 23 of the January 7th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.