Hinrichs named Suffolk administrative judge

Ending months of speculation, State Supreme Court Justice C. Randall Hinrichs, a Democrat, has been named as Suffolk's administrative judge, succeeding Patrick Leis.

Chief Administrative Judge Anne Pfau announced Tuesday that Hinrichs, 54, was named to oversee the county's 70 judges, effective March 14.

In a statement, Pfau called Hinrichs a "highly regarded member of the Long Island legal community with an impeccable reputation as an attorney and judge who brings to his new role energy, hard work and commitment."

Hinrichs, who served as an assistant district attorney for nearly two decades, was first elected to the Suffolk County bench in 2002 as a County Court judge. He was appointed supervising judge of County Court in 2008 and was elected to Supreme Court last year, according to Pfau's statement. He also served as an acting Family Court judge early in his judicial career.

Hinrichs' office declined to comment.

Hinrichs, a lawyer for nearly three decades, was named judge of the year by the Suffolk County Criminal Bar Association and has presided over more than 50 jury trials, 30 of them homicide cases, during his tenure on the county court. As a prosecutor, Hinrichs worked in the homicide bureau.

A Long Island native, Hinrichs received his law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Pfau said.

Leis has been administrative judge since 2003.