2025 DAASNY Summer Conference
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
SWEARS IN NEW PRESIDENT, RENSSELAER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY MARY PAT DONNELLY
July 1, 2025 – Albany, New York. At its annual Summer Conference, the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York (DAASNY) installed a new President and Executive Committee and appointed several new members to its Board of Directors. Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly was sworn in as President of the Association.
“I have been honored to be part of this organization since being elected District Attorney,” said President Donnelly. “I value the collective expertise of the community of prosecutors that make up DAASNY. I thank outgoing President, Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, for leading this organization and for his advocacy on behalf of New York State’s prosecutors, public safety, and victims of crime. I look forward to working with my fellow prosecutors and their staff members from all over the state, as well as communicating and collaborating with our law enforcement partners and lawmakers.”
Also sworn in were DAASNY’s Executive Committee Members: Ontario County District Attorney James B. Ritts; Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney; Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly; and Westchester County District Attorney, Susan Cacace.
“It was an honor and privilege to serve as DAASNY President alongside our dedicated prosecutors and support staff, who work each and every day to preserve public safety and ensure justice,” said immediate Past President, Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. “We advocated on behalf of law enforcement and voiced the priorities and perspectives of prosecutors from across New York State on issues related to retail theft, illegal smoke shops, squatters, and the enactment of common-sense changes to our state’s discovery statute that will prevent countless case dismissals that have denied justice to far too many victims. I have complete confidence that District Attorney Donnelly will continue to advocate on behalf of prosecutors and the law enforcement community, and I will assist her and support her in any way.”
Additionally, DAASNY added new members to its Board of Directors: Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon; Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane; Hamilton County District Attorney Marsha King Purdue; Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman; Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten; and Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji.
DAASNY’s annual Summer Conference was held in Saratoga Springs, New York, and was attended by almost 150 district attorneys and assistant district attorneys. Over three days, prosecutors met and discussed issues related to their offices, public safety, and victims of crimes. Topics included forensic science and using modern technology and techniques to investigate cases; compliance with amendments to New York’s discovery law; issues related to forensic science; and ethics and training of district attorneys and their assistants.
Participants also received updates from DAASNY committees and subcommittees, including the Committee on Fair and Ethical Administration of Justice/Best Practices, the Vehicular Crimes Committee, the Special Victims and Domestic Violence Subcommittee, and others. Immediate Past President McMahon appointed two co-chairs to DAASNY’s newest committee, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee, which will be facilitating discussions on AI and how it can be used by prosecutors and police, as well as how it should not be used, and the ethics and the best practices involved in the use of AI by the law enforcement community.
The New York Prosecutors Training Institute presented three Prosecutor of the Year Awards. The winners were selected from nominations by district attorneys across the state. The awards are given to New York prosecutors who have enhanced our criminal justice system in the courtroom and in the local community.
This year’s winners:
Trial Advocacy Prosecutor of the Year
Jessica Blain-Lewis, Albany County District Attorney’s Office
Appellate Prosecutor of the Year
William Milaccio, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office
Executive Leadership Prosecutor of the Year
Robert M. Carney, District Attorney, Schenectady County
DAASNY was formed in 1909 as an organization for prosecutors in the State of New York, to provide for the exchange of information and views with respect to the conduct of their offices, the New York State criminal justice system, and the criminal law and its operation. DAASNY represents the elected and appointed prosecutors of the 62 New York State district attorney’s offices, the New York State Attorney General’s Office, the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, and the Office of the New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor. New York’s prosecutors share a common goal: to do justice on behalf of the People of our state, by convicting the guilty, exonerating the innocent, and safeguarding the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Previous NYPTI Prosecutor of the Year Award Recipients
2021
Todd J. Casella, Yates County
David M. Hoovler, Orange County
Nancy Killian, Bronx County
2019
Robert A. Mascari, Madison County
Jed L. Painter, Nassau County
Justin J. Braun, Bronx County
2018
Christina N. Tremante, Schenectady County
Timothy J. Koller, Richmond County
Christopher T. Valdina, Cayuga County
2017
Weeden A. Wetmore, Chemung County
Joseph J. Muroff, Bronx County
Yael V. Levy, Nassau County
2016
Rachel S. Singer, Kings County
John M. (“Jack”) Ryan, Queens County
Victoria M. White, Onondaga County
2015
Sandra Doorley, Monroe County
Cindy F. Intschert, Jefferson County
David Cohn, New York County
2014
Joseph A. McCormack, Bronx County
James A. Murphy III, Saratoga County
Donna A. Milling, Erie County
2013
Matthew C. Hayden, Schuyler County
Derek P. Champagne, Franklin County
Glenn Green, Suffolk County
2012
Rick Trunfio, Onondaga County
Kathleen B. Hogan, Warren County
Morrie I. Kleinbart, Richmond County