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St. Lawrence County legislators pass resolution asking District Attorney Rain to resign

Posted 12/6/16

By JIMMY LAWTON CANTON -- St. Lawrence County's legislature has asked District Attorney Mary Rain to resign and called on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to initiate an investigation. The resolution passed in a …

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St. Lawrence County legislators pass resolution asking District Attorney Rain to resign

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County's legislature has asked District Attorney Mary Rain to resign and called on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to initiate an investigation.

The resolution passed in a split vote Monday evening. It came from Legislator Joseph Lightfoot, R-Oswegatchie, who said the county has done everything possible to help Rain succeed, while the office continually fails to provide justice for victims of St. Lawrence County.

Lightfoot took issue with a recent editorial by the Watertown Daily Times that laid blame on the county for not providing adequate support to the office. But Lightfoot argued that is untrue. He said the county has consistently filled requests to hire assistant district attorney positions. Lightfoot said the high turnover in that office, which he estimated at 15 employees since her term began, can't be placed on the legislature.

The lengthy resolution asks Rain to pen her resignation and calls on the governor to initiate an investigation for Rain's removal. The resolution recounts the county legislature's efforts to ensure Rain had sufficient pay, adequate office space and staffing levels to ensure the office could run smoothly.

Not all legislators supported the resolution. Chairman John Burke, R-Norfolk, and David Forsythe, R-Lisbon, agreed that while there are many problems in the district attorney's office, they felt a request for resignation would have little impact. Burke and Forsythe pointed out that Rain is an elected official voted in by the people and that the county legislature does not have the power to remove her.

But other legislators said the request was necessary to show St. Lawrence County residents that they are doing everything within their power to fix the county's broken justice system.

Legislator Kevin Acres, R-Madrid, said the office has had a "parade of dismissed felony cases" because the district attorney's office is not prosecuting them in a timely manner.

"This is the only avenue we have. Let's take a chance. Maybe she will resign," he said.

This is not the first time St. Lawrence County legislators have called on the governor to take action to remove Rain. In Apil the county passed a no-confidence vote and called on the governor to launch an investigation. See more on that here.

More recently her chief assistant Frank Cositore resigned from his position leaving behind a scathing resignation letter. More on that can be seen here.

Monday's resolution however, is likely to have little impact. During a visit to Potsdam earlier this year Gov. Cuomo said he would be staying out of the investigation being performed by the Third Judicial Department's Committee on Professional Standards.

Investigations regarding attorneys are confidential and NorthCountryNow.com has been unsuccessful in repeated attempts to get updates on the matter.