SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Onondaga County Family Court Judge Michael Hanuszczak was presented with the Mike Bristol Crystal Award by the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in recognition of his judicial skills and temperament.
In selecting him CASA noted, “Judge Hanuszczak has demonstrated patience, compassion and respect to those before him in the most challenging circumstances. As presiding Family Treatment Court Judge, His Honor treats every recovering addict with respect and dignity while offering him or her an opportunity for expedited reunification with continued sobriety. “
The Crystal Award was established by CASA in honor of Mike Bristol, the long-time manager and publicist for Syracuse University athletics, and Judge Hanuszczak was selected as the first recipient of the annual award. The award was presented at CASA’s annual dinner gala with a number of prominent Central New York attorneys in attendance, as well as members of Judge Hanuszczak’ s family.
Judge Hanuszczak received his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and his law degree from the SUNY at Buffalo School of Law. He spent 10 years in private practice and served as a member of the Attorney for the Child panel representing children in a variety of Family Court proceedings.
Judge Hanuszczak has an extensive public service background, including service as a member of the Onondaga County Legislature, CNY Regional Office head of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and special counsel to the chair of the Workers’ Compensation Board. He was elected to the Family Court bench in 2000. In 2004, he was designated to serve as an acting State Supreme Court justice in New York’s Fifth Judicial District.
During his judicial career Judge Hanuszczak has heard and resolved thousands of cases and has presided over the Integrated Domestic Violence Court. He currently presides over the Family Treatment Court. More than 50 of his decisions have been reported in the New York Official Reports and a number have been featured in various legal publications, such as the New York Law Journal and Daily Record.
Judge Hanuszczak also serves as the judicial representative on the New York State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team.
Judge Hanuszczak, who is a member of Ukrainian National Association Branch 127, commented, “I greatly appreciate being recognized and honored by CASA for my judicial skills. Serving as a Family Court Judge is challenging, but not as challenging as being a parent. Thus, working with a variety of agencies and attorneys to assist parents is one of the most important duties of a Family Court Judge.”