That announcement was made Tuesday, May 24.

To assist County Attorneys and to establish a resource for professional development, in 1953, County Attorneys gathered their resources to provide a united voice and a resource for the members. In 1981, County Attorneys agreed to formalize their collaboration through the creation of the official creation of CAASNY.

St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators Chair William ‘Bill’ Sheridan (District 4) applauded the move and hailed the selection of Button as a win for St. Lawrence County and the State of New York.

“Mr. Button has served the citizens of St. Lawrence County with distinction for more than a decade now, 7 years of which in the role of County Attorney. Given his track record, it is a safe assumption that the counties of this State will benefit greatly by his selection and St. Lawrence County will enjoy an increased stature in statewide activities. I fully support his selection and look forward to the upcoming year,” said Sheridan.

Among CAASNY’s stated purposes include the following: to promote more efficient county and city government; to cultivate the science of jurisprudence; to advance closer personal and professional relationships among county and New York City Corporation Counsel attorneys in the State of New York; to encourage and promote the exchange of information and views in respect to the conduct of the various county attorney’s offices throughout the State and the Corporation Counsel’s Office; to analyze proposed and enacted legislation and regulations at the State and Federal levels affecting counties within the State of New York and the City of New York, and to present legal ideas and opinions to State and Federal legislators, representatives and officials with respect to such legislation and regulations; and to serve the public of this State.

CAASNY represents the legal counsel for all 57 counties in New York State outside of the City of New York as well as Corporate Counsel for the City of New York, which includes the five boroughs.

St. Lawrence County Administrator Ruth Doyle also commended the selection of Button as an opportunity for the Association to be served with the same diligence and determination that he brings to the County.

“As a member of Senior Staff in County Government, Mr. Button demonstrates the best in both leadership and in perseverance in public service. I have no doubt he will serve the County Attorney’s Association of New York State with distinction as well,” Doyle stated.

Button was raised in the North Country and currently resides with his wife, Melissa, and his four children in Canton.

In 2009, Button began his employment with St. Lawrence County as an Assistant Public Defender in the St. Lawrence County Office of the Public Defender. In 2011, Button was appointed to a term as St. Lawrence County Chief Public Defender, a position he held until his appointment as County Attorney in February of 2015. During his tenure as County Attorney, he has worked to establish a program to remediate potentially environmentally contaminated properties, in conjunction with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Comptroller’s Oil Spill Fund and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

He has also actively pursued legislation in the field of justice reform and indigent defense. In 2016, for his work on behalf of Indigent Defense and fighting County Unfunded Mandates under the 5th and 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Button was the co-recipient of the New York State Defenders Association Service of Justice Award with Deputy Majority Leader Senator John DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse) and Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy (D-Albany).

Button has also been an avid advocate on behalf of Second Amendment issues, having previously acted as New York State Law advisor to the State of Louisiana on the Amicus Curiae in the matter of The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. The City of New York et al.

In addition to his role as County Attorney, Button serves as an adjunct faculty member at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Potsdam and on the Curriculum Board of the Legal Studies program of SUNY Canton, as well. Button is licensed to practice law in the State of New York, State of Texas, State of Connecticut, before the Supreme Court of the United States, and before various lower federal courts.