By MATT CHANDLER
Buffalo Law Journal

The New York State Unified Court System announced several appointments Thursday, one of which involved a familiar face in Buffalo legal circles.

Hon. Sharon Townsend has been appointed vice dean for family and matrimonial law at the New York State Judicial Institute in White Plains. Since 2002, she has served as the administrative judge for the 8th Judicial District.

She will remain a state Supreme Court justice in Buffalo, and said she'll continue to serve as 8th District administrative judge until a successor is named.

In her new role, Townsend will provide advice, mentoring and support throughout the state to judges handling family court and matrimonial cases, and will also coordinate judicial training for those judges. She will be assuming support functions for judges that were previously provided by the Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Matrimonial Matters, and will also chair the court system's Matrimonial Advisory Committee.

In a statement announcing the appointments, which take effect immediately, Hon. Ann Pfau. the state's chief administrative judge, praised Townsend for "an impressive record of achievement in the family and matrimonial areas," and said New York's family and matrimonial judges will benefit from her expertise and experience.

Townsend said she is looking forward to the challenge of her new position.

"This is a great opportunity for me, and I am excited for what lies ahead," she said. "I'm also happy that I will be able to remain here in Erie County as part of the (state Supreme) court."

Townsend has worked in a variety of capacities in the Buffalo legal community, including serving as counsel to the Erie County Department of Social Services and in private practice as a matrimonial attorney. After serving as Williamsville village justice for seven years, she was elected to the Erie County Family Court in 1991.

Townsend sits on the board of trustees of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and has served as a model-court lead judge for the organization.