WHITE PLAINS, NY — Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore has been confirmed by a vote of the New York State Senate and is now the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York.
Upon her confirmation, she resigned her position as Westchester County District Attorney.
First Deputy District Attorney James McCarty is now the acting District Attorney of Westchester County.
“After serving the people of Westchester County for twenty years, ten as an assistant District Attorney and the last ten as District Attorney, I accepted the nomination by Governor Cuomo for the position of Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York.
Now, having been officially confirmed by the New York State Senate, I want to again thank the Governor and the Commission on Judicial Nomination for their faith in my ability and for recognizing my experience, qualifications, and fitness to become Chief Judge. I also want to recognize all the members of the Westchester County District Attorney’s office, prosecutors, investigators and support staff, who I have worked with for two decades for their continued dedication and professionalism,” said Chief Judge Janet DiFiore.
“It has been an absolute honor to serve under Janet DiFiore during her tenure as the Westchester County District Attorney. There is no one serving in the public sector that I hold in higher esteem. I look forward to leading the excellent staff she has assembled over the coming year,” said Acting District Attorney James McCarty.
Before becoming Acting District Attorney, James McCarty served as the Chief of Trial Operations directly overseeing all trials in the superior and local courts of Westchester County, and as an Assistant District Attorney since 1980, Mr. McCarty was the Deputy Division Chief of the Superior Court Trial Division for the previous six years.
He has tried over one hundred cases, including the successful prosecutions of Carolyn Warmus, “The Fatal Attraction Murder Case,” and serial killer Patrick Baxter.
Acting District Attorney McCarty is a graduate of the University of Rochester and Albany Law School.
A special election will be held on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016, to elect a new District Attorney.