The District Attorney of Queens County is the elected district attorney for Queens County in New York State, coterminous with the New York City borough of Queens. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws. (Federal law violations in Queens are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York). The current Queens County District Attorney is Melinda Katz, who assumed the duties of the office on January 1, 2020. There was an inauguration on January 6, 2020 at her alma mater, St. Johns University.
History In a legislative act of February 12, 1796, New York State was divided into seven districts, each with its own Assistant Attorney General. Queens County was part of the First District, which also included Kings, Richmond, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. (At that time, Queens County included much of present-day Nassau County, and Westchester County included present-day Bronx County.) In 1801, the office of Assistant Attorney General was renamed District Attorney. At the same time, New York County was added to the First District. Westchester County was separated from the First District in 1813, and New York County was separated in 1815. In 1818, all 13 districts were broken up, and each county in the State of New York became a separate district.The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pp. 366ff and 379; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858).
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 State Constitution of 1821, the D.A. was appointed to a three-year term by the County Court. Under the provisions of the State 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, the Governor of New York filled the vacancy temporarily until a successor was elected, always to a full term, at the next annual election.Courts and Lawyers of New York: A History, 1609-1925 by Alden Chester & Edwin Melvin Williams (The American Historical Society, 1935, vol. 1, p. 964).
One year after the 1898 Consolidation of New York City, Nassau County was separated from Queens County. In case of a vacancy, a DA is appointed by the Governor to fill the office temporarily. A new DA is then elected at the next annual election in November, always to a full term. From 1847 to 1942, the term length was three years. In November 1942, a DA was elected to a one-year term.Rules on Queens Election, New York Times, October 15, 1942 (subscription required). From the election of November 1943, the DA has been elected to a four-year term.
List of district attorneys District attorney Dates in office Party Notes1 Nathaniel Lawrence February 16, 1796 – July 15, 1797 Dem.-Rep. diedWerner (1891), p. 553. vacant July 15, 1797 – January 16, 17982 Cadwallader D. Colden January 16, 1798 – August 19, 1801 Federalist3 Richard Riker August 19, 1801 – February 13, 1810 Dem.-Rep.4 Cadwallader D. Colden February 13, 1810 – February 19, 1811 Federalist5 Richard Riker February 19, 1811 – March 5, 1813 Dem.-Rep.6 Barent Gardenier March 5, 1813 – April 8, 1815 Federalist7 Thomas S. Lester April 8, 1815 – June 12, 1818 ?8Eliphalet WickesJune 12, 1818 – 1821Dem.-Rep.Werner (1891), p. 560.9William T. McCoun1821 – 1826Werner (1891), p. 560.10Benjamin F. Thompson1826 – 1836Werner (1891), p. 560.11William H. BarrollMay 3, 1836 – 1842Werner (1891), p. 560.12Alexander Hadden1842 – 1845WhigWerner (1891), p. 560.13John G. Lamberson1845 – December 31, 1853 last to be appointed by the County Court and first to be elected by popular ballot (in May 1847), total of three terms14William H. OnderdonkJanuary 1, 1854 – December 31, 1859 elected to two three-year termsWerner (1891), p. 560.15John J. ArmstrongJanuary 1, 1860 – December 31, 1865 elected to two three-year termsWerner (1891), p. 560.16Benjamin W. DowningJanuary 1, 1866 – October 26, 1883Democraticelected to six three-year termsWerner (1891), p. 560. removed from office by Governor Grover Cleveland for malfeasance17John FlemingOctober 27, 1883 – December 31, 1883 (interim)January 1, 1884 – December 31, 1886Democratic appointed by Governor Cleveland to replace DowningWerner (1891), p. 560. elected to a three-year term lost re-election to McGowan18Thomas F. McGowanJanuary 1, 1887 – May 1, 1887Democratic elected to a three-year term over Fleming fled to Canada after it became known that as Supervisor of the Town of Newtown, he stole about $19,500 in town money to cover his losses speculating in the stock exchange – Albert F. Cornelius May 1, 1887 – June 13, 1887 (acting) Democratic became acting district attorney upon McGowan's fleeing to Canada19John Fleming(second term)June 13, 1887 – August 10 (acting)August 10, 1887 – December 31, 1887 (interim)January 1, 1888 – December 31, 1893Democratic appointed by Judge Bartlett of the Queens County Court of Oyer and Terminer in place of McGowan appointed by Governor David B. Hill to fill McGowan's term for the remainder of the year elected to the remainder of McGowan's term elected to a three-year term lost re-election to Noble20Daniel NobleJanuary 1, 1894 – December 31, 1896Democratic defeated Fleming in election to a three-year term21William J. YoungsJanuary 1, 1897 – December 14, 1898Republican elected to a three year-term resigned to become private secretary to Governor Theodore Roosevelt22George W. DavisonDecember 14, 1898 – January 2, 1899 (acting)January 2, 1899 – December 31, 1899 (interim)Republican became acting district attorney when Youngs resigned appointed by Roosevelt for the remainder of Youngs' term lost election to Merrill23John B. MerrillJanuary 1, 1900 – December 31, 1902Democratic elected to a three-year term24George A. GreggJanuary 1, 1903 – December 31, 1905Democratic elected to a three-year term25Ira G. DarrinJanuary 1, 1906 – December 31, 1908Municipal Ownership League elected to a three-year term did not run for re-election26Frederick G. DeWittJanuary 1, 1909 – December 31, 1911Democratic elected to a three-year term27Matthew J. SmithJanuary 1, 1912 – December 31, 1914Democratic elected to a three-year term28Denis O'LearyJanuary 1, 1915 – December 31, 1920Democratic elected to two three-year terms lost to Wallace on his re-election attempt on the Fusion and Liberal tickets Republicanand Fusion29Dana WallaceJanuary 1, 1921 – December 31, 1923Republican elected to a three-year term30Richard S. NewcombeJanuary 1, 1924 – December 31, 1929Democratic elected to two three-year terms did not run for re-election (ran for Surrogate instead, and won)31James T. HallinanJanuary 1, 1930 – January 1, 1932Democratic elected to a three-year term resigned after election as a justice of the New York Supreme Court -Charles P. SullivanJanuary 1, 1932 – February 15, 1932 (acting)Democratic became acting district attorney upon Hallinan's resignation32Charles S. ColdenFebruary 15, 1932 – December 31, 1932 (interim)January 1, 1933 – January 7, 1935Democratic appointed by Governor Franklin Roosevelt to succeed Hallinan elected to a three-year term appointed by Governor Herbert H. Lehman to a vacant seat on the Queens County Court33 Charles P. SullivanJanuary 7, 1935 – December 31, 1951Democratic became acting district attorney again upon Colden's resignation appointed by Governor Lehman to fill Colden's vacancy for the remainder of the year? elected five times denied the Democratic nomination in the primary, ran on the Liberal and No Boss lines and lost34T. Vincent QuinnJanuary 1, 1952 – December 31, 1955Democratic elected to a four-year term lost to O'Connor in the Democratic primary election35Frank D. O'ConnorJanuary 1, 1956 – December 31, 1965Democratic defeated Quinn in Democratic primary elected to three four-year terms resigned after winning election to President of the New York City Council36Nat H. HentelDecember 31, 1965 – December 31, 1966 (interim)Republicanappointed by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller for one year lost election to Mackell37Thomas J. MackellJanuary 1, 1967 – April 23, 1973Democratic elected to serve the remainder of O'Connor's term elected to two four-year terms resigned after being indicted on charges of covering up an investigation into his investments and Governor Rockefeller began proceedings to remove him –Frederick J. LudwigApril 23, 1973 – May 9, 1973 (acting)Democraticbecame acting district attorney when Mackell announced his resignation and went on vacation38Michael F. ArmstrongMay 9, 1973 – December 31, 1973 (interim)Democratic appointed by Governor Rockefeller for the remainder of the year to replace Mackell did not run for election39Nicholas FerraroJanuary 1, 1974 – December 31, 1976Democratic elected to a four-year term resigned after winning election as a New York Supreme Court justice40John J. SantucciJanuary 1, 1977 – December 31, 1977 (interim)January 1, 1978 – June 1, 1991Democraticappointed by Governor Hugh Carey for the remainder of Ferraro's term elected to four four-year terms resigned41Richard A. BrownJune 1, 1991 – December 31, 1991 (interim)January 1, 1992 – May 4, 2019Democraticappointed by Governor Mario M. Cuomo for the remainder of the year elected to seven four-year terms died in office –John M. RyanMay 4, 2019 – December 31, 2019 (acting)Independent named acting district attorney by Brown for medical reasons, although Brown continued in an official capacity until his death did not run for election42Melinda KatzJanuary 1, 2020 – current Democratic elected to two four-year terms
References
External links