Judge C. Randall Hinrichs

Biography

The Honorable C. Randall Hinrichs was appointed as Suffolk County Administrative Judge by then Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau on March 14, 2011. As Chief Administrative Judge, he was responsible for the operation of a court system serving the needs of approximately 1.5 million citizens of Suffolk County. Those responsibilities included the oversight of 1,000 employees and 80 judges. Justice Hinrichs proudly served as a judge for over twenty years before entering private practice and of counsel to Russell Law. 

As administrative Judge, Justice Hinrichs 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.

Justice Hinrichs served as the Supervising Judge to 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 on January 1, 2010. During his tenure as Supervising Judge, Justice Hinrichs’s duties included overseeing trial operations for ten judges presiding over felony criminal matters. From January 2003 until March 2011, Judge Hinrichs had a very active trial part and presided over many felony trials including twenty-nine homicide trials to verdict. From January 2002 to December 2002, Justice Hinrichs served as 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, to prosecute murder cases upon the creation of the Homicide Bureau. 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 and presented him with the President’s Award in 2019. Justice Hinrichs has also been honored by the Suffolk County Bar Association at its Judiciary Night in 2011, at the Bar Association’s Lawyer Assistance Foundation Dinner in 2012 and with the President’s Award in 2015. Justice Hinrichs was honored in 2015 at the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association Gala and in 2016 received the Courage Award from the Black Law Students Association of Touro Law School. 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.