Politics & Government
Former Assistant District Attorney Entering Philly DA Race
Jack O'Neill is a Chestnut Hill native and hopes to take over for DA Seth Williams, who announced he will step down from the position.
Former Assistant District Attorney, Chestnut Hill native, and lifelong Philadelphian Jack O'Neil announced his campaign for Philadelphia District Attorney recently.
In a press release, O'Neill said he filed 1,776 signatures to qualify for the Democratic Primary last Tuesday and announced the campaign Sunday.
“I worked tirelessly for victims of sexual assault, for gun violence victims. I know what needs to be done to reduce our gun violence problem.” O’Neill said in the press release. “There’s no one else that has my experience as a prosecutor. We’re running for the position of top prosecutor.”
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O’Neill has worked for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office under Lynne Abraham and has represented thousands of survivors of domestic and sexual assault, handling over 100 rape and homicide cases at the DA’s office, the release said.
O'Neill became one of the lead prosecutors in the District Attorney’s Office and in doing so successfully prosecuted some high profile cases, such as The Charles Finch Case and the prosecution of the Kensington rapist, according to the release.
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After years of work in the Special Victims Unit, he was promoted to the office’s Homicide Unit, the release said.
O'Neill resigned as a city Assistant DA and went into private practice, representing individuals in both civil and criminal cases, in February 2016, according to the release.
District Attorney Seth Williams announced last month that he will not be seeking reelection, saying his accepting of money without disclosing it marred the reputation of the DA's office and its staff.
"During my enure, I have made regrettable mistakes in my personal life and personal financial life that vast an unnecessary shadow over the district attorney's office," Williams said on Feb. 10. "I no longer want in any way to stand in the way of the men and women of this who have the mission of doing justice and serving the citizens and ensuring safety everyday."
Image via Michael Righi, Flickr Commons
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