Queens

Law Professors filed a grievance regarding Rosemary Chao’s professional misconduct for her repeated improper summation conduct in four cases she prosecuted as a Queens Assistant District Attorney. In one case, her misconduct was so egregious that the Appellate Division ruled that she deprived a New Yorker of his fundamental, constitutional right to fair trial, leading to the reversal of the conviction.

Despite this track record, Chao became a law clerk for the Queens Supreme Court.

The grievance below details Chao’s repeated summation misconduct in all four cases, including denigrating defendants and defense attorneys, referencing facts not in evidence, misstating testimony, making prejudicial statements to the jury, and other ethical violations just to win her cases. This prosecutor’s behavior is far from justice.

Chao’s misconduct in Queens was far from unique; serious misconduct at the Queens District Attorney’s Office (QDAO) has been regularly reported for years. 

Powerful positions require the highest accountability. We cannot reward prosecutors for breaking the rules.