Administrative Directory - Administrative Judges - Outside NYC

Hon. C. Randall Hinrichs

The Honorable C. Randall Hinrichs was appointed to his present position as Suffolk County District Administrative by then-Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau on March 14, 2011.  In that capacity he is responsible for the operation of the Suffolk County trial courts, serving the needs of approximately 1.5 million citizens of Suffolk County. Those responsibilities include the oversight of nearly 1,000 employees and more than 70 judges.

As Administrative Judge, Justice Hinrichs has worked closely with the Suffolk County legal community on a number of issues including a Task Force which focused on exploring innovative ways to improve operations in the Suffolk County Supreme, Family, and County Courts.  Judge Hinrichs is proud to have continued the successful Suffolk County Veterans Court and presided over the opening of the East End Veterans Court.  Suffolk County is also the site of a Felony Youth Part and, under Justice Hinrichs' leadership, existing treatment courts have been expanded, allowing defendants to return to the community and lead productive lives.  A newly formed Vacant and Abandoned Properties Part has also been created in cooperation with local governments to address the devastating effects vacant and abandoned properties have on our communities.

Justice Hinrichs served as the Supervising Judge of the Suffolk County Court from April 25, 2008 until his appointment as District Administrative Judge.  He was elected to the County Court bench in 2001 and began his term on January 1, 2002.  He was elected to the New York State Supreme Court in 2009 and began his term January 1, 2010.  During his tenure as Supervising Judge, Justice Hinrichs’ duties included overseeing trial operations for ten judges presiding over felony criminal matters.  From January 2003 until March 2011, Judge Hinrichs sat in a very active trial part where he presided over many felony trials including twenty-nine homicide trials to verdict.  From January 2002 to December 2002, Justice Hinrichs served as an Acting Family Court Judge presiding over abuse, neglect, and custody matters.

Before joining the bench, Justice Hinrichs served in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office from March 1982 to December 2001.  During his career as a prosecutor, Justice Hinrichs served as Chief of the Case Advisory Bureau and Deputy Chief of the Major Crime Bureau.  He was also selected, in 1987, upon the creation of the Homicide Bureau, to prosecute murder cases. Justice Hinrichs was twice awarded the District Attorney Distinguished Trial Advocacy Award.  He was also awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Parents of Murdered Children organization and received a Distinguished Service Award for the creation and implementation of a Felony Early Disposition system which fostered early resolution of criminal matters which fit a clearly defined set of criteria.

Justice Hinrichs serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Criminal Justice Program at Suffolk Community College.  He has also lectured at the Suffolk County Bar Association, the Suffolk County Criminal Bar Association, and has addressed forums at the Touro Law Center.

Justice Hinrichs is a graduate of Bucknell University and the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School.  He is a member of the New York State and Suffolk County Bar Associations.  Justice Hinrichs is also a member of the Suffolk County Criminal Bar Association which honored him as Judge of the Year in 2007.  Justice Hinrichs has also been honored by the Suffolk County Bar Association at its Judiciary Night in 2011, at the Bar Association’s Lawyers Assistance Foundation Dinner in 2012, and was a recipient of the President's Award in 2015. On September 25, 2015, Justice Hinrichs was one of the honorees at the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association Gala. Justice Hinrichs is grateful for the opportunity to work with his colleagues from the bench and bar and is especially appreciative of having the privilege to serve the citizens of Suffolk County throughout his career.

 

Judge Randall Hinrichs

Information about Judge Hinrichs is also available on the Judicial Directory.