New York County District Attorney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids District Attorney of New York County |
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_small.jpg) Cy Vance since January 1, 2010 |
The New York County District Attorney is an important elected official. This person works for New York County in New York State. Their main job is to handle the prosecution of state laws.
Prosecution means they decide if someone who broke a state law should go to court. They then present the case against that person. If someone breaks a federal law in Manhattan, a different lawyer handles that. The current District Attorney is Cyrus Vance, Jr..
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History of the District Attorney Role
The role of District Attorney has changed a lot over time. It started way back in 1796.
Early Days: Appointed Lawyers
In 1796, New York State was split into seven areas. Each area had an Assistant Attorney General. New York County was special. The main Attorney General, Josiah Ogden Hoffman, handled cases there himself until 1801.
From 1801 to 1813, New York County was part of a larger area. This area included several other counties like Kings and Queens. Over the years, the districts changed. By 1818, each county in New York State had its own District Attorney.
Changes in Area Covered
For many years, the New York County District Attorney also covered parts of what is now the Bronx. From 1874 to 1895, they covered the West Bronx. From 1895 to 1913, they covered all of the Bronx.
But on January 1, 1914, the Bronx became its own county. It then got its own District Attorney. This made the New York County District Attorney's area just Manhattan.
How the District Attorney Was Chosen
At first, the District Attorney was not elected. They were chosen by a group called the Council of Appointment. They stayed in the job for as long as the Council wanted. There was no set time limit.
In 1821, a new state constitution changed things. The County Court started appointing the District Attorney. They would serve for three years. Then, in 1846, another constitution made a big change. The people of New York County could now vote for their District Attorney. This made the job an elected position. The term was still three years long.
Term Length and Vacancies
Later, the term length changed again. In 1896, the term for the District Attorney became four years. This new term length matched the Mayor's term. If the District Attorney's office becomes empty, the Governor of New York can appoint someone temporarily. Then, a special election is held for the rest of the term.
Where the Office Works
The New York County District Attorney's office has a few locations. They work hard to serve the people of Manhattan.
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The office operates out of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse at 1 Hogan Place (100 Centre Street)
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The DA also operates out of the Louis J. Lefkowitz State Office Building on 80 Centre Street (141 Worth Street).
In Popular Culture
You might have seen the New York County District Attorney's office on TV! The famous show Law & Order and its spin-off shows often feature lawyers from this office. They show how these lawyers work to prosecute criminal cases. Some of the well-known District Attorneys from the show include Adam Schiff, Nora Lewin, Arthur Branch, and Jack McCoy.
