John J. Durham, who spent nearly 20 years in the Eastern District of New York’s U.S. Attorney’s office, will now work as a defense attorney for Nixon Peabody in their New York City office, the firm announced Wednesday, March 25.
Durham led some of the office’s highest profile cases during his almost two decades at work, including against fraudster and former Rep. George Santos, several MS-13 leaders, and other gang members. While the Eastern District covers Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island along with Nassau and Suffolk counties, Durham specialized on Long Island.
Beginning with President Trump’s second term in January 2025, Durham briefly served as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, departing when Joseph Nocella Jr. was appointed to the position in May…