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Manhattan’s new top prosecutor promises humility

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NEW YORK (AP) — Manhattan’s first new district attorney in 35 years says he’ll balance public safety with fairness as he takes over one of the nation’s most prominent prosecutor’s jobs, which served as a model for television’s “Law & Order.”

Cyrus R. Vance Jr. pledged at Monday’s swearing-in to use “our immense power as prosecutors with humility.”

Vance heads an office known for pursuing cases ranging from corporate corruption to celebrity misbehavior. In the last four months, the office has charged a TV producer with trying to blackmail David Letterman, reached a plea deal with rapper Lil Wayne in a gun possession case and put “Spider-Man” actress Kirsten Dunst on the witness stand in a trial involving the theft of her $2,000 handbag.

Vance is a former defense lawyer and litigator. He was elected in November to replace the retiring Robert Morgenthau.