Judge Patricia D. Marks: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Patricia D. Marks (Ret.) was a judge for the Monroe County Court in the Seventh Judicial District of New York. She joined the bench in 1985 and retired in 2011.

During her tenure on the bench, she was appointed to serve as the supervising judge of the criminal courts in the Seventh Judicial District by former Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman in 1994. Marks was instrumental in the development of the Monroe County Drug Treatment Court and is also credited with creating the Monroe County Mental Health Court. In addition to presiding over both treatment courts, she also presided over the County’s Veterans Court.

Marks received a B.A. in political science from Vassar College in 1971. She also completed a J.D. at Albany Law School in 1974.

Out of law school, she first worked as a legal assistant with the Monroe County Department of Social Services. Marks held that position until joining the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office in 1976. As an assistant district attorney, she helped prosecute white-collar crimes.

She has served as a member of the board at Veterans Outreach Center, and would later serve as its interim CEO in 2014 and 2017. After retiring from the bench, Marks served as a contract hearing officer and also served as of counsel in private practice.

She has chaired the New York State Unified Court System’s Criminal Jury Instructions Committee since 1994. Marks was also involved with educational and cultural exchanges with Russian judicial counterparts through the Russian American Rule of Law Consortium beginning in 2002.

She was selected as the 2012 Woman of Distinction by former New York State Senator James S. Alesi.

Marks grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York. Her father, who worked as the manager of a men’s clothing store, was a World War II Army Veteran and former prisoner of war.