The Honorable David E. Markus

David E. Markus is a court attorney referee for the Rockland County Supreme Court in the Ninth Judicial District of New York. He began this position in 2011.

During his tenure there, Markus has held an assignment in the Rockland County Foreclosure Part, which he is credited with helping to create. He also worked as deputy chief counsel for Judicial Policy in the New York State Unified Court System (2011 to 2014). As such, Markus acted as a legal and policy advisor to the Office of Court Administration and as deputy legislative counsel to the New York State Judiciary. During that same time, he was chair of the Justice Court Task Force and chief counsel to the Local Courts Advisory Committee.

Markus received a B.A. in political science and government from Williams College (1994) and a master’s degree in public policy, political advocacy and media relations from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2001). Markus also completed a J.D. at Harvard Law School in 2001.

While pursuing his master’s degree, Harvard named him an Innovator in Public Service (2001) for his research on establishing state-level networks such as C-SPAN to improve legislative processes and government transparency by providing gavel-to-gavel coverage of public affairs. He was later awarded the Goldsmith Award for his research efforts (2001).

After law school, Markus worked as a senior law clerk for the Hon. Albert M. Rosenblatt with the New York State Court of Appeals (2001 to 2002) before becoming special counsel and deputy legislative counsel to the New York State Judiciary in 2002. He remained in that capacity until 2009.

During that same time, Markus acted as Deputy Director of Voter Protection for PA Campaign for Change during former President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign (2008) and taught political science as an assistant adjunct professor at Fordham University (2003 to 2005) and public administration as an associate adjunct professor at Pace University (2005 to 2007).

After leaving his position in the New York State Judiciary, Markus became special counsel to the majority (2009 to 2010) and senior counsel to the leader (2010 to 2011) in the New York State Senate. Though, he later returned to the Unified Court System at the end of the legislative session.

Aside from his legal and political career, Markus was ordained as a rabbi by the seminary of ALEPH (Alliance for Jewish Renewal) in 2015, after devoting six years to study. He also holds dual ordination from ALEPH as a spiritual director. In addition to serving as co-rabbi at Temple Beth-El of City Island, he is on the rabbinic faculty for the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York, the spiritual direction faculty for the ALEPH Ordination Program, and a fellow of Rabbis Without Borders.

Along with his rabbinical duties, Markus has been a guest lecturer at Yeshivat Maharat and a syndicated writer for The Forward, The Wisdom Daily, My Jewish Learning, and The Jewish Studio.

His memberships have included the New York State Bar, the Westchester Board of Rabbis, and the Rabbinic Association for Jewish Renewal.

Markus resides in Westchester County, New York.