David Evan Markus, Esq., a founding officer of the Lawyers Depression Project, is North America's only presiding judicial officer simultaneously holding an active clergy pulpit.  In secular life, Markus presides as Special Referee in New York Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District. His previous government roles include Special Counsel under two Chief Judges of New York, Deputy Legislative Counsel for the New York Office of Court Administration, and Special Counsel to the New York Senate Majority.  Markus also serves as rabbi of Temple Beth El of City Island (New York City, NY), rabbinics faculty at New York's Academy for Jewish Religion, and ethics chair for Bayit: Building Jewish.  Markus earned his Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, Masters in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, graduate certificate in spiritual entrepreneurship from Columbia Business School, double ordination as rabbi and spiritual director from ALEPH, and Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Williams College.  He lives in New York.