Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy announced his resignation Thursday, as he looks forward to running for County Court Judge in November.
Effective Thursday at 5 p.m., James Murphy is no longer District Attorney of Saratoga County. At a news conference held earlier in the day, the man who has served in the position since 1998 told reporters leaving the position was an easy, although bittersweet, decision.
“And I can rest assured that the right thing has been done that the right thing has been done, and the right thing will continued to be done because of the people I have left in this office,” said Murphy.
Murphy, a Republican, is currently the only declared candidate in the race to replace retiring County Court Judge Jerry Scarano, who is stepping down after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Murphy said he will take a three-month “sabbatical” from Saratoga County, and will spend time with his family and do some traveling. If elected County Judge, he will then spend 8 to 9 months away while the current cases move through the system. Then, he hopes to return to a team he’s worked with for years.
“The silver lining for me is eventually, when I come back to Saratoga County, I’ll still get to work for them, I’ll still get to work with Oscar Schreiber in the Public Defender’s office and his assistant public defenders, so for me, I’ll be working with the group in a different way.”
If Murphy had stayed on as DA until January, his replacement would have been appointed, and election would be held in 2015. By stepping down early, it allows for a new District Attorney to be chosen by voters this November — and gives the GOP a chance to hold the position.
“To me, the least amount of turnovers the better, so by resigning immediately, it creates an election, the voters get to decide – not the executive. And I think that’s what we need in the county.”
First Assistant District Attorney Karen Heggen will now serve as acting DA until the end of the year.
At the press conference, Heggen stood in front of the office’s team of Assistant District Attorneys and Saratoga County law enforcement.
“Most importantly, Jim’s leadership has brought about a team of men and women that I find second-to-none in the Capital District, and want that to be the continuation of the strong work we do to keep our county and our communities here safe,” said Heggen.
Heggen has worked in the DA’s office for the past 22 years, beginning as a part-time Assistant District Attorney. Murphy brought her on full-time after he took office in 1998. Heggen said she is planning on running for District Attorney this fall.
Assistant District Attorney Jim Mason, prosecutor in the Dennis Drue case involving the drunk-driving related deaths of two Capital Region teenagers, said he puts his trust in Heggen.
“I don’t expect any hiccups at all,” said Mason.
Mason is also looking forward to Murphy’s possible tenure as judge.
“He’ll be one of the best judges and for Saratoga County to have him, they’re very fortunate,” said Mason.
Murphy’s grandfather, Carleton King, was a Saratoga County DA before being elected to Congress in the 1960s, and Murphy’s father, James A. Murphy, Jr., was a former mayor of Saratoga Springs. Murphy first joined the District Attorney’s office as an ADA in 1988.
