Atlantic City's Municipal Court has new leadership on each side of the courtroom.
David Little becomes the new municipal prosecutor, after spending five years in the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
"As the great City of Atlantic City, we are going to always look for the best and the brightest," Mayor Marty Small said. "I believe Dave will be an asset to the Municipal Prosecutor's Office."
Small told BreakingAC he knows that decision could surprise some in light his recently acquittal from prosecution by that same office, but says he focused on talent.
"We don’t make decisions on feelings and emotions," Small said. "We make our decisions on the facts. The facts are, (Little) is a very good attorney. He's passionate. It's about Atlantic City and nothing else, and this decision clearly shows that."
Little comes from a family with deep roots in Atlantic County.
His mother, Alisa Cooper, has a long history of service, including as an Atlantic County freeholder (now commissioners). She most recently was the longest-serving commissioner on the Casino Control Commission until her retirement Aug. 1.
She followed in the footsteps of her mother, Assemblywoman Dolores Cooper, whose name lives on with the Dolores Cooper Memorial Bridge that spans the waterway into and out of Longport.
Little went to Mainland Regional High School and graduated from Rutgers University in 2016. He earned his juris doctorate at Widener University School of Law in 2019.
Before joining the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, he clerked for Superior Court Judge W. Todd Miller in the Family Division.
Small also told BreakingAC that he has looked to own city Solicitor's Office to put in a permanent municipal public defender, which recently has been contracted on a part-time basis.
Karl Timbers, an assistant city solicitor for 12 years, is moving into that spot.
"Karl is extremely intelligent," Small said. "It's going to be a loss in the Solicitor's Office, but we don't stop anyone from moving up. This is a big move for him, and I'm sure he's ready."
Timbers is a Temple University graduate who earned his juris The University of Toledo College of Law in 2009.
He currently is an Egg Harbor City councilman, where he serves as president pro tempore.
