Manhattan District Attorney

History

In the legislative act of February 12, 1796, New York State was divided into seven districts, each with an Assistant Attorney General, except New York County where Attorney General Josiah Ogden Hoffman prosecuted personally until 1801.

From 1801 to 1813, New York County was part of the First District, which included the counties of New York, Kings, Queens, Richmond, and Suffolk. At that time, Queens included current-day Nassau County and Westchester included the Bronx. In 1813, Westchester County was apportioned to a new district with Rockland and Putnam counties, and in 1815, New York County became the Twelfth District—the only one at the time that was a single county. In 1818, each county in the state became its own district.

From 1874 to 1895, New York County included the West Bronx, and from 1895 to 1913 it included all of what is now Bronx County, governing the same area as does the present Borough of the Bronx. On January 1, 1914, the Bronx became a separate county with its own district attorney.

Until 1822, the district attorney was appointed by the Council of Appointment, and held the office "during the Council's pleasure", meaning that there was no defined term of office. Under the provisions of the New York State Constitution of 1821, the district attorney was appointed to a three-year term by the County Court, and under the provisions of the Constitution of 1846, the office became elective by popular ballot. The term was three years, beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31. In case of a vacancy, an acting district attorney was appointed by the Court of General Sessions until the Governor of New York filled the vacancy with an interim appointment until an election was held for the remainder of the term.

The Consolidation Charter of 1896 extended the term by a year of the incumbent John R. Fellows, who had been elected in 1893 to a three-year term (1894–1896). Since the city election of 1897, the district attorney's term has coincided with the mayor's term and has been four years long. In case of a vacancy, the governor can make an interim appointment until a special election is held for the remainder of the term. File:Ny-county-hogan-entrance.jpg|The office operates out of the New York County Criminal Courthouse at 1 Hogan Place (100 Centre Street) File:Louis J. Lefkowitz State Office Building 80 Centre Street.jpg|The district attorney also operates out of the Louis J. Lefkowitz State Office Building on 80 Centre Street (141 Worth Street).

List of district attorneys

In popular culture

Films

• Legal Eagles (1986)

Television series

• The D.A.'s Man, which ran for a single season on NBC in 1959, starred John Compton as Shannon, an undercover investigator for the Manhattan DA's office. Produced by Jack Webb, the series fictionalized the career of real-life Manhattan DA's Investigator Harold Danforth, whose autobiography, also titled The D.A.'s Man, written in collaboration with veteran, Pulitzer Prize-winning police reporter James D. Horan, had won an Edgar from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Fact Crime Book.
• For the People starred William Shatner as an idealistic young deputy district attorney in the Manhattan DA's Office, Howard da Silva as his supervisor, and Lonny Chapman as his investigator.
• Hawk, which ran for a half-season in 1966, starred Burt Reynolds as Lt. John Hawk, a detective assigned to NYPD's Manhattan DA's Squad.
• Cagney & Lacey was revived in 1994 for a series of irregularly scheduled two-hour TV-movies. In the interim between these films and the original series, Cagney had been promoted to lieutenant and placed in command of the NYPD's Manhattan DA's Squad. Lacey, having retired some years earlier was persuaded to return to police work as a criminal investigator for the Manhattan DA's Bureau of Investigation, allowing the two partners to work together again. There were four movies in the revived series between 1994 and 1996.
• Blue Bloods: Depicts the prosecution of criminal suspects by lawyers of the New York County District Attorney's office through the character assistant district attorney Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan), who started out the series as a Trial Division Assistant District Attorney before being promoted to Deputy Bureau Chief in toward the end of Season 3 and then to Trial Division Bureau Chief at the start of Season 9. Since Season 5, Erin has worked closely with D.A. Investigator Anthony Abetemarco (Steven R. Schirripa).
• Law & Order: The long-running television series Law & Order and its spin-offs depict the prosecution of criminal suspects by lawyers of the New York County District Attorney's office. In the original pilot episode "Everybody's Favorite Bagman", shot in 1988, Roy Thinnes was cast as District Attorney Alfred Wentworth. Subsequent district attorneys depicted in the franchise are Adam Schiff (1990–2000), Nora Lewin (2000–2002), Arthur Branch (2002–2007), Jack McCoy (2008–2011, 2018–2024), and Nicholas Baxter (2024–present). Law & Order ceased production in 2010, but McCoy (though not seen) was still occasionally mentioned as being the Manhattan district attorney in the spin-off series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in several episodes through 2011. A reference to "the new DA" in a 2013 episode indicated that McCoy had moved on from the position presumably sometime in 2012; his replacement was unnamed. However, McCoy became the district attorney again as of 2018, showing up in an SVU episode and later during the 21st season of Law & Order that started in 2022.

References

References

1. "NYC Green Book - Green Book Online - District Attorney - New York County".
2. (2 July 2021). "Alvin Bragg Set to Become Manhattan's First Black District Attorney".
3. ''People v Jeffrey's'', [http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2016/2016_51400.htm 53 Misc 3d 1205] (2016)
4. Jacobs, Shayna. (19 September 2016). "Judge: NYPD can act as prosecutor in Black Lives Matter cases". [[Daily News (New York).
5. Dolmetsch, Chris. (14 December 2011). "Occupy Wall Street Judge Refuses to Throw Out Summonses". [[Bloomberg News]].
6. Pinto, Nick. (November 3, 2016). "Protesters Sue to Stop NYPD from Acting as Prosecutors". [[The Village Voice]].
7. (1911). "Legal and Judicial History of New York". National Americana Society.
8. Geoffrey Hermalyn and Lloyd Ultan, "Bronx" in ''The [[Encyclopedia of New York City]]'' (1st edition), edited by [[Kenneth T. Jackson]], [[New York Historical Society]] and [[Yale University Press]], New Haven, Connecticut, 1995, {{ISBN. 0-300-05536-6, page 140.
9. Except from 1901 to 1905, when the district attorney's term was four years and two mayors each served a two-year term.
10. (1891). "Civil List and Constitutional History of the Colony and State of New York". Weed, Parsons, and Company.
11. Werner (1891), p. 554. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
12. Werner (1891), p. 558. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
13. (November 10, 1853). "New-York State Election — Additional Returns State Ticket — City Vote". The New York Times.
14. (July 18, 1854). "Death of N.B. Blunt, Esq.". The New York Times.
15. (September 20, 1856). "Sudden Death of Lorenzo B. Shepard". The New York Times.
16. (October 12, 1854). "New-York City — City Politics — Soft-Shell Judiciary Convention". The New York Times.
17. (October 8, 1898). "A. Oakey Hall is Dead — The Lawyer, Writer, Politician, and ex-Mayor a Victim of Heart Disease — The Man's Remarkable Life — Poverty-Stricken in Youth, He Worked His Way Through College and Climbed Steadily to the Top — Some of His Peculiarities". The New York Times.
18. (September 1, 1911). "Peter B. Sweeny Dead at 86 — One of "Big Four" of Tweed Ring Spent His Last Years In New York". The New York Times.
19. (January 4, 1858). "Court of General Sessions". The New York Times.
20. (October 4, 1858). "Resignation of P.B. Sweeney". The New York Times.
21. (April 20, 1878). "Death of Geo. W. Blunt — His Career as a Public Officer — Brief Sketch of His Life — Over Thirty-Two Years in the Public Service — The Positions Which He Held — The Blunt Family As Writers on Nautical Subjects". The New York Times.
22. (April 23, 1894). "Ex-Judge Nelson J. Waterbury Dead — Succumbs to Pneumonia After Three Days, Illness — His Long Career". The New York Times.
23. (November 7, 1861). "Vote for Canal Commissioner — Votes for Assemblymen and Senators". The New York Times.
24. (November 9, 1864). "Glorious Result Yesterday — Election of Lincoln and Johnson — Terrible Defeat of McClellan — The Union Triumphant — New-England a Solid Phalanx — New-York for Lincoln and Fenton — Defeat of Governor Seymour and His Friends — Gain of Five Union Congressmen in the State — Election of Raymond, Dodge, Darling, Conklin and Humphrey — Pennsylvania Union on the Home Vote — Heavy Union Gains — Maryland and Delaware All Right — Heavy Union Gains in New-Jersey — The Great Northwest Solid for Lincoln — Details of the Returns — The Vote of the City — President and Governor — Canal Commissioner — State Prison Inspector — Fourth Congressional District — Fifth Congressional District — Sixth Congressional District — Seventh Congressional District — Eighth Congressional District — Ninth Congressional District — The Total Vote and the Registry". The New York Times.
25. (November 10, 1867). "Local Intelligence — The Recent Elections in the City — Corrected Vote by Wards". The New York Times.
26. (December 2, 1898). "The Charter Election — The Tammany Nominees Elected by Large Majorities — A. Oakey Hall Mayor Elect — Richard O'Gorman Corporation Counsel — Tabular Statement of Voting — Arrests of Illegal Voters". The New York Times.
27. (January 5, 1869). "Municipal Affairs — Organization of the Common Council — The Mayor's Message — The City Budget for 1869 — Comparison of Taxation in 1868 and 1869". The New York Times.
28. (June 29, 1878). "Obituary — Samuel B. Garvin". The New York Times.
29. (January 4, 1869). "Law Reports — The Law Courts for January". The New York Times.
30. (January 1, 1873). "The New Year — How the Social Holiday will be Celebrated — Prospect of a Fine Day — New-Year's Calls — The Customs of the Day — Official Receptions — Work of the Old Year — Decapitations and Appointments in Municipal Departments". The New York Times.
31. (November 4, 1875). "The People's Victory — The Vote in the City — A Democratic Majority of 28,156 For Secretary of State, Against 42,528 For Tilden Last Year — The Vote For District Attorney and Recorder". The New York Times.
32. (November 6, 1878). "One-Man Power Crushed — An Overwhelming Victory For the People — Edward Cooper Elected Mayor by a Majority of Nearly 20,000 — John Kelly Defeated at Every Point — The People Rise in Their Might Against Tammany Hall — Good Municipal Government Assured". The New York Times.
33. (December 31, 1880). "A Bright Career Ended — Death of District Attorney Benjamin K. Phelps — Brief Sketch of His Life and Legal Work — A Leading Lawyer and a Successful Prosecutor — His Last Illness". The New York Times.
34. (August 31, 1897). "Daniel G. Rollins Dead — The Former Surrogate Passes Away at His Summer Home in Somersworth, N.H. — His Career As a Lawyer — Served as Assistant United States District Attorney and County District Attorney in This City, and Had a Wide Acquaintance at the Bar". The New York Times.
35. (January 11, 1881). "Mr. Phelps's Successor — Daniel G. Rollins Appointed District Attorney by the Governor". The New York Times.
36. (November 9, 1891). "A Republican Majority — The State Ticket Elected On a Close Vote". The New York Times.
37. (1906). "Memorial of Wheeler Hazard Peckham". Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
38. (February 10, 1922). "Peter Butler Olney Dies of Pneumonia — Ex-District Attorney Succumbs Suddenly at His Cedarhurst Home at 78 Years — Sued "Boss" Tweed Ring — Brother of Late Secretary of State Helped Revise the Laws Affecting New York City". The New York Times.
39. (March 31, 1895). "Death of Judge Martine — Heart Failure, Due to Peritonitis, the Cause — His Recovery Was Hoped For — Preparations Had Been Made to Take Him to Old Point Comfort — Action of General Sessions Judges". The New York Times.
40. (January 2, 1885). "Mr. Martine Begins Work". The New York Times.
41. (October 23, 1887). "Shall The People Be Beaten?". The New York Times.
42. (January 3, 1888). "Col. Fellows in Office — A Day of Congratulations and Hospitality". The New York Times.
43. (November 5, 1890). "Result of the City Vote — The Tammany Ticket Elected in Its Entirety — Pluralities Given for the Candidates Ranging From About Ten Thousand to Nearly Twenty-Five Thousand". The New York Times.
44. (April 1, 1931). "De Lancey Nicoll, Noted Lawyer, Dies — Former District Attorney Is Stricken Suddenly in His 77th Year — "Boodle Aldermen's" Foe — Convicted Several for Accepting Franchise Bribes — Delegate to Constitutional Conclaves". The New York Times.
45. (October 7, 1893). "Nicoll Out of the Race — The District Attorney Will Not take a Renomination — He Makes This Announcement After a Talk with Mr. Croker — Says He Was Urged to Run Again, but He Decided to Give up Politics — Gossip About the Tammany Nominations That Will Be Made at the Convention To-night — Republican Hopes". The New York Times.
46. (November 8, 1893). "Tammany Sweeps the City — Very Little Interest Over the Local Ticket — As the Day Was Fine, However, the Respectable Element Went to the Polls in Larger Numbers Than Usual — Many Workmen Did Not Take the Customary "Day Off," Evidently Caring Little How the Election Resulted — Disturbances Were Few and Trifling". The New York Times.
47. (December 8, 1896). "Col. John R. Fellows — Dead The District Attorney Passed Away Yesterday — His Older Son Reached Home Too Late to See His Father in Life — Sketch of Col. Fellows's Career". The New York Times.
48. (April 18, 1931). "Ex-Justice Davis Dies of Pneumonia — Eminent Jurist, Who Lately Had Acted as Official Referee, Was 76 Years Old — Noted Episcopal Layman — He Won National Fame as District Attorney — Led in Welfare and Educational Activities". The New York Times.
49. (December 12, 1896). "Favor Vernon M. Davis — Indorsed by Business Men as Col. Fellows's Successor". The New York Times.
50. (May 11, 1933). "W.M.K. Olcott, Ex-Judge, Dead — Served as District Attorney of New York County Many Years Ago — Once City Court Judge — Prominent Member of the Bar — Ardent Republican, He Entered Politics Early in Career". The New York Times.
51. (December 20, 1896). "Olcott Takes His Office — New District Attorney Sworn In by Justice Pryor — Immediately Reappoints Several Assistant District Attorneys and Announces His Policy for Future Distribution of Patronage". The New York Times.
52. (May 29, 1919). "Gen. Asa B. Gardiner Dies in 80th Year — Ex-District Attorney of New York and Military Leader Passes at His Suffern Home — Was Counsel for Grant — Awarded Congressional Medal for Bravery, He Was Asked 45 Years Later to Return It". The New York Times.
53. (November 4, 1897). "Democrats Take All — The Tammany Ticket Makes Almost a Clean Sweep of the Greater City — Only Two Republicans in the Council — Van Wyck's Plurality Is 80,316 — Seth Low Ran Nearly 40,000 Ahead of His Ticket — The Republicans Lose 21 Assemblymen and Elect Only 11 Candidates to the Board of Aldermen". The New York Times.
54. (December 23, 1900). "Col. Gardiner is Removed — Governor Ousts the District Attorney — Sustains the Charges — Appoints Eugene A. Philbin, a Democrat to the Office — Decision Based Principally Upon the Conduct of the District Attorney at the Time of the Devery Indictment". [[The New York Times]].
55. (March 15, 1920). "Judge Philbin Dies; His Illess Brief — End Comes at His City Home After Being Stricken with Pneumonia Tuesday — Was Born Here in 1857 — Justice's Life Marked by Public Service, Especially in Protecting Parks". The New York Times.
56. (January 10, 1931). "G.W. Schurman Dies; Prominent Lawyer — Was Once Associated With Chief Justice Hughes in Legal Practice Here — Leader in Bar Association — Brother of Ex-Envoy to Germany Had Been Active Aide in Jerome Reform Movement". The New York Times.
57. (December 31, 1901). "Mr. Schurman Will Act — To Be District Attorney from Midnight Until Justice Jerome Is Sworn In". The New York Times.
58. (January 2, 1902). "Mr. Jerome Was Not Sworn In — New York Without an Official District Attorney Yesterday — Justices of the Supreme Court Had All Gone Home When He Was Ready to Take the Oath". The New York Times.
59. (February 14, 1934). "Jerome Dies at 74; Long Tammany Foe — District Attorney Whose Raids Roused the City 30 Years Ago Succumbs to Pneumonia — Led Reform Movements — But Was Not 'Reformer' Type — Closed Canfield Resort and Prosecuted Thaw". The New York Times.
60. (November 6, 1901). "Victory for the Fusion Ticket — Seth Low Elected Mayor by About 33,000 Plurality — Jerome Defeats Unger — Fusion Borough Presidents Chosen in Three Boroughs — Van Wyck Left Far Behind — Contest Close for Sheriff in This County — Jerome Wins by About 15,000 — Fusion Justices Win — Democrats Carry Only Queens and Bronx". The New York Times.
61. (January 3, 1902). "Mr. Jerome Takes The Oath of Office — Justice Leventritt Swears In the District Attorney — Police Cases to Receive Immediate and Close Attention — To Bring Offenders to Justice Within Short Space of Time". The New York Times.
62. (November 8, 1905). "Jerome — Elected District Attorney by 3,525 — In Doubt Till Late — Result Greeted with Wild Cheering by the Crowds — Jerome Says the People Did It". The New York Times.
63. (September 30, 1909). "Name Whitman for District Attorney — Republicans Select a Full County Ticket in Accordance with Fusion Agreement — Shea Chosen for Sheriff — Two Republicans and an Independent Democrat Nominated for the Supreme Bench". The New York Times.
64. (March 30, 1947). "Ex-Gov. Whitman Dies Here at 78 — Executive of State, 1915-1918, 'Broke' Rosenthal Case as District Attorney in 1912". The New York Times.
65. (November 3, 1909). "Gaynor Wins; Tammany Loses All The Rest — A Clean Sweep by Fusion of All Offices Outside of the Mayoralty — Gaynor's Plurality 72,500 — But Fusion Has Carried the Board of Estimate and with It City Control — Whitman District Attorney — Beats George Gordon Battle for the Office by About 22,000 Votes — All Patronage to Fusion — Controllership, Aldermanic Presidency, County Offices, and Supreme Court — All Gone — Borough Presidents, Too — McAneny Wins in Manhattan, Gresser Carries Queens, Miller the Bronx — And Roesch Is Beaten". The New York Times.
66. (1914). "Manual for the Use of the Legislature of the State of New York — 1914". J.B. Lyon.
67. (January 1, 1915). "Whitman Goes in As Bells Toll 12 — New Governor Takes Up Reins of Office at Midnight Without Waiting for Ceremonial — Legal Point is Involved — Courts Advise Him to Re-designate Justices Whose Terms Expired with 1914 — Accepts Own Resignation — First Official Act Is Followed by Appointment of Charles Albert Perkins as District Attorney". The New York Times.
68. (January 17, 1930). "Charles A. Perkins, Ex-Prosecutor, Dies — Served as District Attorney of New York County When Mitchel Was Mayor — Handled City Trust Cases — Took Part In the Lexow Investigation — Made a Drive Against Notorious Gangsters". The New York Times.
69. (November 3, 1915). "Swann, District Attorney — His Plurality 33,589, and Smith Elected Sheriff by 49,390 — Bennet Back to Congress — Has Probably Carried His Uptown District by About 723 Over Healey — Cropsey Wins in Brooklyn — Tammany Will Probably Control Board of Aldermen and Elect McAneny's Successor". The New York Times.
70. (September 21, 1945). "Edward Swann, 83, Ex-Judge, Is Dead — District Attorney Here, '16-22, Was Often Under Fire — 9 Years in General Sessions". The New York Times.
71. (November 7, 1917). "Hylan Chosen Mayor, Plurality 147,000; Woman Suffrage Wins Probably by 80,000; Prohibition Close, Suffrage Loses, in Ohio — A Tammany Sweep — Hylan Can Get Every Vote in the Board of Estimate — Carries Every Borough — His Vote Is 293,382, Mitchel's 148,060, and Hillquit's 138,793 — Lewis, Attorney General — Beaten in This City, but Had a Big Plurality Up-State — Hylan Promises Loyalty". The New York Times.
72. (July 21, 1949). "Joab Banton, 79, Once Prosecutor — District Attorney of New York in 1922-29 Dies — Handled Rothstein Murder Case". The New York Times.
73. (November 10, 1921). "The City Vote — Hylan's Plurality 417,986 — Craig's 249,252 — Banton's 83,680.". The New York Times.
74. (November 5, 1925). "Final Returns Add to Tammany Sweep — All but Three of 63 Candidates for Aldermen, and 56 for Assembly Are Elected — Walker Wins by 401,581 — Banton's Plurality 105,421 — Wigwam Captures 10th District — Connolly Issues Statement". The New York Times.
75. (August 8, 1929). "City Tickets Named; Republican Leaders Pick Aron and Coler — Selections in LaGuardia Slate, With Banker for Controller, Provide a Surprise — Democrats Redesignated — Walker, Berry and McKee Are Chosen for Present Offices, With All Chiefs Concurring — Hylan Still in the Race — Dry Republicans Urge Bennett, Who Once Beat Mitchel in Primary, to Fight LaGuardia". The New York Times.
76. (May 30, 1942). "Thomas C.T. Crain, Ex-Justice, Dies, 82 — Tammany Sachem Who Won District Attorneyship at 69 — A Court Referee at Death — Rothstein Murder One of Cases Investigated by Him — Was of Mayflower Ancestry". The New York Times.
77. (November 6, 1929). "Crain is Elected by 96,863 Margin — Tammany Candidate Leading With 202,574 Against 106,095, With 72 Districts Missing". The New York Times.
78. (November 6, 1929). "District Attorneys Elect and Some of the Victorious Judicial Candidates". The New York Times.
79. (May 2, 1933). "Crain Will Retire at the End of His Term – Prosecutor, 74, Tells Friends He Will Not Run Again — Plans to Practice Law". [[The New York Times]].
80. (November 8, 1933). "Officials Elected". The New York Times.
81. (July 6, 1937). "Strong Backing for Hastings". [[The New York Times]].
82. (November 4, 1937). "Dodge Reveals His Plans – Retiring District Attorney Will Return to Private Practice". [[The New York Times]].
83. (March 17, 1971). "Thomas E. Dewey Is Dead at 68". The New York Times.
84. (November 3, 1937). "Route of Tammany Viewed as Knell of 100-Year-Old Machine's Waning Power – Dewey is Winner By 108,823 Margin – Tammany Hall Swept Out of District Attorney's Office After 20-Year Rule –– Victor to Oust Staff – Pledges Reorganization That Will 'Restore Justice' to Courts of County". [[The New York Times]].
85. (July 30, 1941). "Dewey Won't Run – Asks Nomination of One of 4 Aides – Decision Irrevocable, He Says — Backs Lockwood, Gurfein, Hogan or Thayer". [[The New York Times]].
86. (April 3, 1974). "Hogan, District Attorney 32 Years, Dies". [[The New York Times]].
87. (November 4, 1941). "District Attorney Hogan". [[The New York Times]].
88. (November 5, 1941). "La Guardia Wins A Third Term by 133841; His Ticket Elected, Gets Estimate Board; County Reform Adopted; Harvey Loses – O'Dwyer Vote High – Mayor Retains Office by Thin Margin in Closest Contest Since 1905 – M'Goldrick is Victor – Fusion to Have 12 of 16 Board Votes – Morris Again Heads Council". [[The New York Times]].
89. (December 22, 1959). "Dedicated Crime Buster - Alfred Joseph Scotti". The New York Times.
90. (September 18, 1973). "Hogan Has Had a Stroke And Lung‐Tumor Surgery". [[The New York Times]].
91. (February 6, 1974). "Kuh Appointed Manhattan Prosecutor; Scotti, Chagrined, Planning to Retire". [[The New York Times]].
92. (February 14, 1974). "Kuh Is Sworn In; Plans Neighborhood D.A. Offices". [[The New York Times]].
93. (November 19, 2011). "Richard H. Kuh, Ex-Manhattan Prosecutor, Dies at 90". The New York Times.
94. (September 12, 1974). "Morgenthau‐Kuh Contest To Be Repeated on Nov. 5". [[The New York Times]].
95. (November 6, 1974). "Morgenthau Trounces Kuh in D.A. Race". [[The New York Times]].
96. "Statement and Return Report for Certification General Election 2009 – 11/03/2009 New York County – All Parties and Independent Bodies – District Attorney – New York". Board Elections in the City of New York.
97. "Statement and Return Report for Certification General Election 2013 - 11/05/2013 New York County - All Parties and Independent Bodies District Attorney New York". Board of Elections in the City of New York.
98. "Statement and Return Report for Certification General Election – 11/07/2017 New York County – All Parties and Independent Bodies – District Attorney – New York". Board of Elections in the City of New York.
99. (December 31, 2021). "Manhattan D.A. Leaves Office With One Big Case Up in the Air". The New York Times.
100. (November 3, 2021). "Manhattan Elects Its First Black D.A., in a Shift That Is Beyond Symbolic". The New York Times.