County Attorney

Overview

Objective: To provide prompt, quality legal services for all official County matters of a civil nature. 

The County Attorney is the head of the Department of Law. The County Attorney serves as the Chief Legal advisor to County government pursuant to the Rockland County Charter and Administrative Code. As such, he or she is charged with handling all legal affairs of the County government.

The County Attorney is appointed by the County Executive, with confirmation by the Legislature. The County Attorney is the legal advisor to the County Executive, the Legislature, officers, departments, and agencies of the county in all matters involving an official act of a civil nature.

Functions of the County Attorney

• Prepares and reviews resolutions to be submitted to the County Legislature and is present at Legislature meetings for consultations as needed.
• Acts as prosecutor for juvenile delinquents who commit offenses that would be crimes if committed by adults.
• Employs and supervises counsel when needed for any civil action or proceeding brought by or against the county or any county officer in his or her official capacity.
• Prosecutes and defends all civil actions and proceedings brought by or against the county, the County Legislature and any officer whose compensation is paid from County funds for any official act.

Legal Advice

The County Attorney does not provide the public with general advice. If you need legal advice, visit the following sites which will direct you.

Legal Aid Society of Rockland County, Inc.
www.legalaidrockland.org
(845) 634-3627 or (800) 454-3627
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
www.lshv.org
(845) 476-3831 or (877) 574-8529

Rockland County Bar Association
www.rocklandbar.org
Telephone: (845) 634-2149
Fax: (845) 634-1055

Governmental Structure

The County of Rockland is a charter county. The County of Rockland opted for this alternative form of government with the approval of the public in a referendum held in 1985.

County Executive

Rockland County's Charter provides for an elected County Executive. The County Executive is elected on a countywide basis for a four-year term. The County Executive supervises, directs and administers all county departments. The County Executive also has veto power over local laws and resolutions passed by the Legislature.

Legislature

The County Legislature is the legislative, appropriating and policymaking branch of County government. As of November 1999, each legislator is selected within seventeen single-member districts for a four-year term.

Local Laws and Resolutions

When a Legislative member introduces a local law or resolution, it is referred to an appropriate committee for consideration. If a motion is carried in committee to pass the bill to the full legislature, it will be placed on the next agenda of the full legislature. If a bill does not receive the necessary votes from committee, the bill may go directly to the floor but requires a 2/3 vote to pass. A local law requires a public hearing and therefore two actions of the legislature are required. The first is a resolution to set a public hearing. The second action is considering and adopting the local law. This is the general procedure; there are exceptions and special circumstances. The Legislative procedure is governed by the Rules of the Legislature.

Annual 5-78 Reports

Around March 1 of each year, the County Attorney makes an annual report covering the work of the Office. Copies of these reports are filed with the Clerk to the County Legislature and the County Executive.

Annual 5-78 Reports can be accessed here.