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Mimi Rocah
District Attorney of Westchester County
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
Preceded byAnthony Scarpino
Personal details
Born (1970-07-28) July 28, 1970 (age 54)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
David Anders
​
(m. 2007)​
EducationHarvard University (BA)
New York University (JD)
WebsiteCampaign website

Miriam Elizabeth "Mimi" Rocah (born July 28, 1970) is an American attorney currently serving as District Attorney for Westchester County, New York. In 2020, Rocah defeated incumbent Democrat Anthony Scarpino in a primary challenge and went on to win in the General election.

Since taking office, Rocah has been particularly vocal in combating public corruption, governmental misconduct, substance abuse, and gun violence. Rocah has also promised to pursue criminal justice reform in Westchester County.[1]

In October 2023, Rocah announced that she would not seek re-election for Westchester County District Attorney in 2024, but that she would serve out the rest of her term.[2]

Education and early career

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Rocah graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American history in 1992. She later obtained a Juris Doctor from New York University Law School, where she joined the Order of the Coif honors society.[3]

Rocah started her legal career as a clerk for United States Eastern District Judge John Gleeson and later, Chester J. Straub, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.[4] She later took a position as a litigation associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore law firm.[5]

In February 2001, Rocah became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York under U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White. From 2012 to 2017, Rocah led the Justice Department's division for Westchester County after being promoted by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. In 2016, Rocah received the 2016 Women In Federal Law Enforcement Leadership Award from the Department of Justice.[6][7] Rocah worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York for over sixteen years, leaving in 2017.[8]

Rocah was also a Distinguished Fellow in Criminal Justice and professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.[9]

Rocah was also a legal analyst for both MSNBC and NBC News, where she frequently criticized former President Donald Trump.[10] She made her campaign announcement for Westchester County District Attorney on a segment for the show Morning Joe on MSNBC News.[11]

Political career

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In December 2019, Rocah announced she would launch a primary challenge against incumbent Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, a fellow Democrat. She won the primary election and was endorsed by Scarpino against Republican candidate Bruce Bendish.[12]

Six weeks before the General election was held, Bendish suspended his campaign for district attorney citing 'certain realities' in the race, clearing the way for Rocah to win the election.[13] Rocah won the 2020 election for Westchester County District Attorney and was sworn in by her former employer, Preet Bharara, in January 2021.[14][15]

Since taking office, Rocah has launched numerous campaigns and policies aimed at combating government impunity and criminal justice reform. In July 2021, Rocah announced her office would dismiss all open cannabis possession cases and limited their prosecution going forward.[16] She also garnered national press after requesting evidence on New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, following a state attorney general's report indicating he committed multiple acts of sexual harassment.[17]

Personal life

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Rocah lives in Scarsdale, New York with her husband David Brian Anders, an attorney and partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.[18] Rocah’s father is a Holocaust survivor and she is a proud Jew.[19]

Electoral history

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2020 Westchester County District Attorney election[20][21]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mimi Rocah 70,772 71.78
Democratic Anthony A Scarpino Jr (Incumbent) 27,823 28.22
Total votes 98,595 100.00
General election
Democratic Mimi Rocah 263,150 62.95
Working Families Mimi Rocah 19,354 4.63
Total Mimi Rocah 282,504 67.58
Republican Bruce P Bendish 135,512 32.42
Total Bruce P Bendish 135,512 32.42
Total votes 418,016 100.00
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ Lungariello, Mark. "Mimi Rocah sworn in as new Westchester County district attorney". Lohud. The Journal News. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. ^ Bandler, Jonathan. "Westchester DA Mimi Rocah won't run for re-election next year". Lohud. The Journal News. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  3. ^ "MSNBC's Mimi Rocah to Run for Westchester DA | The Examiner News". The Examiner News. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  4. ^ Failla, Zak (10 June 2021). "Federal Judge Joins Review Of Fatal Officer-Involved Shootings In Westchester". Port Chester Daily Voice. Daily Voice. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Nonprofit Forum with District Attorney Mimi Rocah". Nonprofit Westchester. Nonprofit Association of Westchester, Inc. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joins Haub Law as Distinguished Fellow in Criminal Justice | Pace Law School". Pace Law. Pace University. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  7. ^ Lungariello, Mark. "MSNBC's Mimi Rocah to primary Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino". Lohud. The Journal News. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  8. ^ Perrone, Nicholas. "Rocah elected district attorney". Scarsdale News. S.I. Communications, Inc. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Westchester D.A.-elect Mimi Rocah draws heavily from Haub Law for transition team | Pace Law School". Pace Law. Pace University. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  10. ^ Coltin, Jeff. "The cable TV legal expert challenging Westchester's DA". City & State NY. Government Media Executive Group LLC. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Mimi Rocah announces she's running". MSNBC. NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Challenger wins Democratic primary for DA in NY suburbs". AP News. Associated Press. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  13. ^ Woyton, Michael (22 September 2020). "Republican Bendish Drops Out Of Westchester DA Race". Scarsdale, NY Patch. Patch Media. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  14. ^ Joseph, George. "Mimi Rocah Declares Victory in Westchester DA Race, Promises Accountability". WNYC. New York Public Radio. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Inauguration of DA Miriam E. Rocah". Westchester County District Attorney's Office. Facebook. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  16. ^ Dan, Murphy (28 July 2021). "DA Rocah Dismisses All Marijuana Possession Cases". Yonkers Times. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  17. ^ Breuninger, Kevin (4 August 2021). "Manhattan, Westchester, Nassau DAs ask for evidence from Cuomo sex harassment probe". CNBC. NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  18. ^ "David B. Anders". WLRK. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  19. ^ @Mimirocah1 (21 July 2019). "I am proudly Jewish & my dad escaped the Holocaust" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 June 2024 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "2020 Federal Primary Election Canvass Book" (PDF). Westchester County Board of Elections. Westchester County. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  21. ^ "2020 General Election Canvass Book" (PDF). Westchester County Board of Elections. Westchester County. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
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