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District Attorney of Philadelphia

Public elected office in Philadelphia, USA


Summary

Public elected office in Philadelphia, USA

FieldValue
postDistrict Attorney
bodyPhiladelphia
imageLarry Krasner, Candidate for Philadelphia District Attorney (cropped).jpg
incumbentLarry Krasner
incumbentsinceJanuary 1, 2018
termlength4 years
formation1850
firstHorn R. Kneass
salary$ 175,576 (2017)

The office of the District Attorney of Philadelphia is the largest prosecutor's office in the US state of Pennsylvania and oversees a jurisdiction that includes more than 1.5 million citizens of both the city and county of Philadelphia. The current District Attorney of Philadelphia is Larry Krasner. The district attorney represents the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City & County of Philadelphia in all criminal and other prosecutions.

The district attorney is an elected office, and terms begin on the first Monday in January following the election. Prior to 1850, the functions of this office were performed by a deputy state attorney-general. An Act of 3 May 1850 P.L. 654 authorized the voters of each of Pennsylvania's counties to elect one person, of requisite legal background to serve as district attorney for a term of three years. The term was extended to four years under the State Constitution of 1874, Article 14.

List of District Attorneys of Philadelphia

District AttorneyTermPolitical party
Horn R. Kneass1850–1851Republican
William B. Reed1851–1856Republican
William B. Mann1856–1868Republican (On November 3, 1856, Lewis C. Cassidy had been elected district attorney but his election was successfully contested by William B. Mann.)
Furman Sheppard1868–1869Republican
Charles Gibbons1869–1870Republican (On November 2, 1868, Furman Shepard was duly elected and sworn-in as District Attorney, however, Mr. Gibbons contested the election and the court declared him the victor, in 1870 the court realized a tabulation error and reappointed Furmand.
Furman Sheppard1870–1871Republican
William B. Mann1871–1875Republican
Furman Sheppard1875–1878Republican
Henry S. Hagert1878–1881Republican
George S. Graham1880–1899Republican (Elected Nov. 2, 1880, declined to be a candidate in 1899, later elected to the US House of Representatives in 1912)
P. Frederick Rothermel1899–1902Republican
John Weaver1902–1903Republican (Elected in 1901 and left office after being elected Mayor of Philadelphia in 1903.)
John C. Bell1903–1907Republican (Appointed in 1903 to fill term of John Weaver, reelected 1904, declined renomination)
Samuel P. Rotan1906–1926Republican (First elected in 1906)
Charles Edwin Fox1926–1928Republican (First Jewish DA in Philadelphia)
John Monaghan1928–1931Republican
Charles F. Kelley1931–1941Republican (died in office)
John H. Maurer1941–1952Republican
Richardson DilworthJanuary 7, 1952 – January 2, 1956Democratic (elected Mayor of Philadelphia in 1955)
Victor H. BlancJanuary 2, 1956 – January 8, 1962Democratic
James C. Crumlish, Jr.January 8, 1962 – January 3, 1966Democratic (Appointed district attorney to finish out the four-year term of Victor Blanc, who had been named a judge, later a longtime Commonwealth Court Judge, himself.)
Arlen SpecterJanuary 3, 1966 – January 7, 1974Republican (two four-year terms, lost his pursuit to a third term in 1973 general election.)
F. Emmett FitzpatrickJanuary 7, 1974 – January 2, 1978Democratic (lost 1977 primary election to Ed Rendell)
Edward G. RendellJanuary 2, 1978 – January 6, 1986Democratic (elected to two four-year terms)
Ronald D. CastilleJanuary 6, 1986 – March 12, 1991Republican (elected two four-year terms, resigned his office for an unsuccessful campaign for Mayor of Philadelphia)
Lynne AbrahamMay 15, 1991 – January 4, 2010Democratic (succeeded Ron Castille; elected to four four-year terms)
Seth WilliamsJanuary 4, 2010 – June 29, 2017Democratic
Kelley B. HodgeJuly 24, 2017 – December 31, 2017Democratic (interim)
Larry KrasnerJanuary 1, 2018 – presentDemocratic (incumbent)

References

References

  1. [http://www.phila.gov/districtattorney/about.html Phila.Gov. Office of the District Attorney : R. Seth Williams:]
  2. [http://www.phila.gov/phils/docs/inventor/graphics/agencies/A006.htm] District Attorney, Office of the: Agency Information
  3. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000354] GRAHAM, George Scott – Biographical Information:, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
  4. (April 12, 1903). "Philadelphia's Mayor Ends Gamblers' Sway – New Executive Carries Out One Promised Reform. 'Machine' Lets Him Name Director of Public Safety, but Continues Control Over the Public Works.". [[The New York Times]].
  5. Hudson, Samuel. (1909). "Pennsylvania and Its Public Men". [[Pennsylvania State University]].
  6. [http://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/AboutLegends] Philadelphia Bar Association Legends of the Bar
  7. (14 January 1926). "Charles Edwin Fox Elected District Attorney in Philadelphia.". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  8. (October 8, 1928). "Corruption: In Philadelphia". [[Time (magazine).
  9. (September 17, 1928). "Corruption: In Philadelphia". Time.
  10. (September 16, 1931). "In Philadelphia". Indiana Evening Gazette.
  11. (October 3, 1941). "District Attorney Dies in Car". The Titusville (PA.) Herald.
  12. [http://www2.hsp.org/collections/manuscripts/d/Dilworth3112.html], Richardson Dilworth papers (Collection 3112), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
  13. (August 13, 1956). "The Press: Crusade in Philadelphia". Time.
  14. (October 28, 1957). "Events & Discoveries: Autumn Across the Land, Pennsylvania Gives Muggsy Taylor the Green Light, Battle of Walden, Neji Wins Again, the Roaring Road in Your Living Room, Vindication for Muggsy". Sports Illustrated.
  15. (1982). "Philadelphia: A 300 Year History". W. W. Norton.
  16. (March 25, 1992). "James C. Crumlish Jr. Judge, 72". [[The New York Times]].
  17. (March 18, 1992). "Judge James C. Crumlish Jr., 71". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
  18. "Arlen Specter Biography – Facts, Birthday, Life Story – Biography.com:".
  19. Chris Brennan & Aubrey Whelan, [http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/larry-krasner-wins-race-for-philly-da-20171107.html Larry Krasner wins race for Philly DA], ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' (November 7, 2017).
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