District Attorney
John C. Tunney
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Mr. Tunney is a lifelong resident of Steuben County and is presently serving
in his 17th year as Steuben County’s District Attorney. He was first
elected District Attorney in 1987. Since that time he has been re-elected
three times, most recently in November of 2003.
Prior to becoming District Attorney, Mr. Tunney practiced law in a firm in Painted Post, NY, a village in Steuben County near Corning, NY. In his private practice he specialized in criminal defense work representing hundreds of people charged with crimes over more than 16 years. Since he became District Attorney he has substantially increased the percentage as well as the number of felony cases prosecuted at the felony level. He was instrumental in the creation of the Steuben County Child Abuse Review Team [CART] which brings together people from a variety of disciplines in order to more effectively deal with child abuse cases. He established a domestic violence bureau and participated in the creation of a Domestic Abuse Review Team [DART], modeled on the Child Abuse Review Team, to improve the system response to domestic violence. His office has been a State leader in the use of asset forfeiture as both a means to deprive criminals of their “ill gotten gains” and as a means to enhance prosecution resources. Mr. Tunney is most widely known, however, as the prosecutor of Eric Smith, a 13 year old who brutally murdered 4 year old Derrick Robie. The prosecution of that case was nationally reported and generated media interest from all over the world because of the age of Eric Smith. Mr. Tunney graduated from the public school system in Corning, NY. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, in 1967, from Holy Cross College and, in 1971 received his Juris Doctor from Cornell University. He serves as an adjunct instructor of criminal law at Corning Community College. Mr. Tunney is married and the father of five children. Mr. Tunney has recently completed a term as President of the New York State District Attorneys Association, the organization which represents New York State’s 62 elected District Attorneys, their assistants and related prosecutors. |