Despite vacancy, Queens DA election winner will take office Jan. 1, 2020

Borough President Melinda Katz, the Democratic nominee for Queens DA, will likely face Queens defense attorney Joe Murray in the November general election. AP Photo/Seth Wenig; photo via Facebook.

By David Brand

Since Queens Borough President Melinda Katz officially won the long, drawn out Democratic primary for Queens district attorney, there has been some speculation about when, exactly, the winner of the November general election would take office.

The winner of the November general election will take over for late DA Richard Brown, who died in May after 28 years in office. Because Brown vacated the office, there was some confusion about whether the winner of the election would take over immediately — as would be the case in a special election or in a legislative election, said election attorney Martin Connors, a former state senator. 

Connors said that the DA election winner would actually assume office on Jan. 1, 2020.

The Board of Elections confirmed that schedule in a message to the Eagle.

“The person who wins the QDA General Election takes office on January 1, 2020,” a BOE spokesperson said.

Katz will likely face off against Queens defense attorney and former NYPD officer Joe Murray in the general election. Murray is the prospective Republican nominee after placeholder candidate Daniel Kogan was designated as a judicial candidate by the Queens County Republican Party at their judicial convention earlier this month.