U.S. Department of Justice Recognizes ADA TaKisha Fitzgerald in its “Profile of Success” Story
District Attorney General Charme Allen is happy to report that The U.S. Department of Justice has recognized Assistant District Attorney General TaKisha (“TK”) Fitzgerald for her outstanding contributions to the community and her excellence as a prosecutor. Since she began working for the 6th Judicial District in 1998, General Fitzgerald’s steadfast desire to help others and seek justice daily are what inspire her and in turn allow her to inspire her colleagues. Simply put, General Fitzgerald is the one person in our Office who is always “lifting up others.” In the February 27, 2017 letter to her Staff in the Eastern District of Tennessee, U.S. Attorney Nancy Harr highlighted many of General Fitzgerald’s accomplishments during her prosecutorial career thus far:
Eastern District of Tennessee’s African American History Month’s Profile of Success: TaKisha M. Fitzgerald
TaKisha Fitzgerald is the subject of our third Profile of Success story. TaKisha is an Assistant District Attorney for the Knox County District Attorney General’s Office and has almost 20 years of service. She handles violent crime cases among other criminal matters. TaKisha is what one might call dedicated. She is typically the first person in and the last person to leave. By way of education, she graduated from the University of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee College of Law. She is a proud graduate of Austin-East High School, one of Knoxville’s inner-city schools, where she still dedicates her time, talents, and resources. Regarding Austin-East, TaKisha still lives in that community and remains committed to its success and advancement. Outside of work, she is a member of New Vision Fellowship Church and the East Knoxville Optimist Club.
Over the years, TaKisha has received numerous accolades: The Black History Celebration Honor from New Vision Church (2014); Achievement Award from the UTK Upward Bound Program; President’s Award from the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (2010); National District Attorney’s Association Home Run Hitter’s Club (2010); the Dr. Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission Award for Advocacy (2009); Certificate of Merit Outstanding Achievement in Arson Investigation (2008); the Greater Knoxville Business Journal ”40 under 40″ (2007); In the Black: 25 African-Americans Making it Happen (2005); Leadership Knoxville (2002); YMCA Black Achiever’s Award (2000); and Sankofa Women’s Expo Award for Dedication to Education, Leadership & Positive Attitude (1999).
Did you know this about TaKisha?
TaKisha played an integral role in the prosecution of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom’s murderers. Because of TaKisha’s unwavering dedication, the D.A.’s office convicted the defendants, and Knoxville is a safer place for it.
By way of reputation, TaKisha is known as a “closer,” and “hammer;” that is, someone who gets it done. In other words, TaKisha is a prosecutor’s prosecutor. Another person who could be described similarly, William “Bill” Crabtree, a long-time D.A.’s office employee and supervisor who recently retired, said this about TaKisha, “She is one of the most talented, hardworking, and dedicated prosecutors that I met in my 45 years of legal practice.” Now, that is high-praise my friends.
~ Nancy Stallard Harr, United States Attorney
General Allen and Staff fully concur with the commendation in Ms. Harr’s letter, and we enthusiastically extend our “Congratulations” to General Fitzgerald on this much-deserved honor – we know that the very best is yet to come for her personally and professionally!