| NEW YORK - A critical step in the groundbreaking program
unveiled by Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye this summer to provide court-mandated
substance abuse treatment to nonviolent drug-addicted offenders was taken
today with the appointment of Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Joseph
J. Traficanti, Jr., as the court system's first Director of Court Drug
Treatment Programs. The appointment, which takes effect immediately, was
made by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman.
Judge Traficanti will oversee the implementation of the judiciary's
comprehensive substance abuse initiative, which includes drug screening
for criminal cases, court-mandated treatment for nonviolent defendants
and parents charged in Family Court child neglect cases, and the creation
of specialized courts that will exclusively target persistent misdemeanor
offenders. The court system's innovative addiction-focused program - the
first of its kind in the nation - is designed to address the staggering 400
percent increase over the last two decades in the volume of narcotics cases
confronting New York's courts.
The appointment of a statewide director to spearhead the judiciary's
reforms targeting substance abuse cases was one of the key recommendations
of the Commission on Drugs and the Courts, a panel convened by Chief Judge
Kaye to study the impact of drug-related cases on court caseloads
and chaired by Robert B. Fiske, Jr., a former U.S. Attorney in Manhattan.
In his new position, Judge Traficanti will steer the statewide implementation
of the judiciary's sweeping drug screening and court-mandated treatment
program, which is slated to be fully in place within three years, with
implementation beginning initially in Kings, Erie, Monroe, Onondaga and
Suffolk Counties. He will be assisted by a special advisory board, consisting
of judges, criminal justice professionals and court officials. (A roster
of the advisory board members is attached.)
Judge Traficanti is presently the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge
for Courts outside New York City, a position in which he has responsibility
for the operations of state and local courts in 57 counties. He will continue
in this capacity concurrently with his new assignment as Director of Court
Drug Treatment Programs.
Chief Judge Kaye stated, "I am delighted with the appointment of Judge
Traficanti to head the implementation of New York's landmark court-mandated
treatment initiative. He has demonstrated exceptional leadership ability
during his tenure as Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, having engineered
and put into place many new programs and operational improvements throughout
the state. His familiarity with the legal communities of both large metropolitan
areas and smaller, more rural regions, as well as the respect he has garnered
statewide for his outstanding intellect and integrity, make Judge Traficanti
the perfect candidate for this critical position."
Judge Lippman said, "As the Director of Court Drug Treatment Programs,
Judge Traficanti will perform the pivotal role of implementing the court
system's comprehensive substance abuse strategy, providing centralized
direction and oversight for this groundbreaking initiative. He will be
the main point of contact for judges, district attorneys, treatment providers
and the defense bar, orchestrating the roll-out of one of the most far-reaching
initiatives ever undertaken by the New York judiciary. For the past
decade, he has served as Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for all courts
outside New York City, an experience that has given him extensive knowledge
of the workings of the court system and an intimate understanding of the
justice community throughout the state. Judge Traficanti's stellar reputation
and unparalleled experience give me every confidence that he will provide
superb leadership for this vital initiative."
Judge Traficanti is the Ulster County Surrogate, a judgeship he has
held since 1982, and also serves as an Acting Supreme Court Justice in
the Third Judicial Department. From 1998 to 1999 he was the Acting Presiding
Judge of the New York Court of Claims. Prior to his tenure on the bench,
Judge Traficanti practiced law, serving as Assistant District Attorney
and later Chief Assistant District Attorney in Ulster County. A graduate
of Siena College and New York Law School, Judge Traficanti has presided
over a broad range of cases, including criminal, family and civil matters,
and he frequently lectures throughout the state on various legal topics.
Advisor Committee for Statewide Implementation of Court-Supervised
Drug Treatment
Debbie Botch
Chief of Budget Operations
Office of Court Administration
Hon. Joan B. Carey
Deputy Chief Administrative Judge
New York City Courts
Carey R. Dunne, Esq.
Davis, Polk & Wardwell
John Feinblatt, Esq.
Director, Center for Court Innovation
Prof. Michael P. Jacobson
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Hon. E. Michael Kavanagh
Justice of the Supreme Court
Third Judicial District
Hon. Robert G.M. Keating
President, Trial Text, LLC
Hon. Dennis M. Kehoe
County Judge, Wayne County
Hon. Judy Harris Kluger
Administrative Judge
Criminal Court of the City of New York
Lawrence K. Marks, Esq.
Special Counsel to the Chief Administrative Judge
Office of Court Administration
Michael Magnani, Esq.
Administrator for Special Projects
Center for Court Innovation
Nancy Mangold
Assistant Deputy Chief Administrator, Division of Court Operations
Office of Court Administration
Hon. Robert T. Russell, Jr.
Presiding Judge, Buffalo Drug Treatment Court
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