Jon E. Budelmann Biography

Mr. Budelmann has served as Cayuga County's Chief Assistant District Attorney for close to 12 years. He is in his fifteenth year as an Assistant District Attorney. Jon has been involved in prosecuting a variety of cases that covers every facet of the law. As Chief Assistant District Attorney he is responsible for the oversight of the other Assistant District Attorneys and in charge of the Office whenever the District Attorney is not available. Mr. Budelmann appears before both County level Judges every week. His responsibilities include grand jury presentment of numerous felony cases as well as the trial of many high-profile criminal cases.

Jon has always maintained that it is his responsibility as a prosecutor to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and defend those who are defenseless. As a prosecutor Mr. Budelmann strives to hold those who commit offenses accountable for their actions. Jon has been a member of the Domestic Violence Coalition and the Sexual Abuse Task Force for many years because of his concern for women and children. He has participated in numerous in-service trainings for police, magistrates and educators. He has also presented at numerous trainings with his fellow prosecutors, as well as mock trials for corrections trainees, sexual assault examiners and trial preparation for police officers.

One of Jon’s strong points is communication and it has been throughout his career as a prosecutor. Jon has worked hard to build relationships with the various other criminal justice agencies, the Courts and Corrections in order to combat crime with the utmost efficiency possible. Everyday Jon strives to deliver the highest quality service to the People of his community. Jon is always approachable and accessible whenever his assistance is needed.

Jon started as an Assistant District Attorney in January 1993. Jon progressed rapidly over his first three years prosecuting and in October 1995 he was promoted to Chief Assistant District Attorney. During his career Mr. Budelmann began by handling low-level offenses and within three years rapidly progressed to serious felony prosecutions, including homicide cases.

As Chief Assistant District Attorney, Mr. Budelmann has attempted to innovate the prosecution of all offenses, including child sexual abuse cases. In 1996 he brought live, two-way closed circuit video testimony to Cayuga County for the first time. Jon also wrote a grant that year to bring a Violence Against Women Act Prosecutor to this County. In addition to his legal work, Jon has served as an Adjunct Professor at Cayuga Community College since 1998. Professor Budelmann teaches a course on the Laws of Evidence for the Criminal Justice Curriculum.

Mr. Budelmann has lectured extensively on various aspects of the Criminal Justice System for numerous organizations, groups, trainings and public forums across the state. He has spoken on such diverse topics as timber theft mandated reporting and methamphetamine prosecution. Jon was recognized by the United States Department of Justice in 1997 for his work on behalf of victims of crime.

Mr. Budelmann was the first McCarthy Scholar and a 1985 graduate of Manlius Pebble Hill School in DeWitt, New York. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1989 and from the George Washington University National Law Center in 1992. Mr. Budelmann originally began working in the Madison County District Attorney's Office in January 1993 and the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office in January 1995. Jon was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1992 and the New York State Bar in January 1993.

Mr. Budelmann grew up in this area (Pompey, New York) and spent his summers on Cross Lake in Cato, New York. Jon has lived in the area his entire life (other than the seven years spent in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. while attending college and law school). Jon has lived in Auburn for a dozen years with his wife Michelle and their two children, Katherine and Jack. His parents are Bruce and Barbara Budelmann, who have lived in Sennett for 10 years. His brother Kurt is an Internist in Laurens, South Carolina.

Jon Budelmann is active in our community, sitting on various not for profit boards including the United Way and Neighborhood House. Jon enjoys spending his free time with his family.

Having served in Cayuga County's District Attorney's Office for over 12 years, Mr. Budelmann is seeking election to a four-year term as District Attorney of Cayuga County. The jurisdiction of this office includes the City of Auburn and all of Cayuga County with a total population of just over 80,000 people. Election Day is November 6, 2007 and Jon would appreciate your vote and your trust in him.