Duckles Takes Over as Interim Monroe County DA Following Doorley Exit

Perry Duckles, Monroe County’s first assistant district attorney, formally assumed the role of interim district attorney following the retirement of Sandra Doorley on Sunday. Duckles’s elevation comes after Doorley, who had served as DA since 2012, stepped down amid calls for public censure in connection with her conduct during a traffic stop last year.

Monroe County Interim DA, Perry Duckles

Doorley announced her retirement earlier this month, after the New York State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct determined she should face public censure over a recorded April 22, 2024, traffic stop in which she allegedly behaved belligerently and invoked her office for personal benefit.

Under New York State protocol, the first assistant district attorney automatically assumes DA duties in the event of a vacancy and carries those responsibilities until a successor is elected or appointed.

Duckles, a lifelong resident of the Rochester area, has served in the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office since March 2003 and was promoted to first assistant DA in 2016. Prior to that, he held leadership positions in the Major Felony Bureau and DWI Bureau, and served as a liaison for gang prosecution efforts with the Rochester Police Department.

Monroe County residents and legal professionals alike now await decisions from county and state leadership regarding the selection of a permanent district attorney.