Sign
For the People

Mark SubenABOUT MARK

Although I've been your DA for over 3 and 1/2 years, and have been seen and heard in the media often in connection with criminal cases that my office has prosecuted, I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and give you some background history about me.

I was raised in Cortland and graduated from Cortland High School.  I graduated college from the University of Rochester with an honors degree in political science, and got a masters degree in that subject from the University of Wisconsin, where I was also an NDEA Title IV scholar.  I got my law degree from Fordham Law School in 1982, where I was an associate editor of the law review.  Thereafter, I spent about seven years in Wall Street law firms in New York City before finding my true calling as a prosecutor, spending about seven years first as an assistant district attorney in the Bronx County DA's Office, then as a senior assistant district attorney in the Onondaga County DA's Office.  Upon leaving the Onondaga County DA's Office, I spent about 13 years in my own solo law practice, specializing in criminal defense, leaving that behind when I was elected your district attorney in 2008.  For the past 17 years I have taught criminal trial practice as an adjunct professor at the Syracuse University Law School.

I returned home to Cortland to live in 2001, and my two sons, Robby and Jesse, graduated from Cortland High School in 2005.  After returning home, I had the opportunity to serve the city as acting City Court Judge and later as City Corporation Counsel, and the county as County Attorney.  I am a past president and longtime member of the Cortland County Bar Association, and also belong to several other local organizations, including the Cortland Elks Lodge, Cortland County Farm Bureau, Cortland Rural Cemetery Board of Trustees and the Old Timers Band (I'm the snare drummer, and have played in that or some older version of that band on and off since I was 13 years old).  I'm a serious amateur jazz drummer, have played with many jazz groups over the years here and in Syracuse, and am a proud member of the American Federation of Musicians. 
                I'm running for re-election on my record of accomplishments as DA, which you'll find elsewhere on this website, and I'll appreciate your support.  Thank you.