Warren G. Clark, Esq., the District Executive for New York’s 10th Judicial District–Suffolk County, has retired after 25 years of dedicated service. His retirement was formally announced by Administrative Judge Hon. Andrew A. Crecca.
Appointed in 2012, Clark served with great distinction as the highest ranking non-judicial employee in the Suffolk County courts. As District Executive, he has been responsible for the operation of a court system that serves the needs of the 1.5 million citizens. In this capacity as the chief administrative officer for the courts, Clark oversaw all non-judicial operations including budget and finance, human resources, space and facilities management, information technology, and security coordination. Clark was instrumental as District Executive for the past 13 years, having led the courts through periods of significant growth, modernization, and transformation. At the time of his retirement, he was in charge of more than 1,000 court employees and worked in coordination with more than 80 sitting judges.
“With decades of service in the court system, and a lengthy and distinguished term as District Executive, Warren Clark carries an encyclopedic understanding of court operations,” said Judge Crecca. “It is nearly impossible to think of the District Executive role without thinking of Warren, and all of us in the courthouse are going to deeply miss his expertise and guidance.”
Prior to his retirement, many judges, attorneys, and court employees gathered for a celebration at the restaurant Shandon Court in East Islip to honor Clark for his remarkable career and countless contributions to the legal community. Among those in attendance were Clark’s former Administrative Judges, Hon. A. Gail Prudenti and Hon. C. Randall Hinrichs.
Clark joined the courts in 2000 as the Principal Law Clerk to Administrative Judge Prudenti. He also served in the District Administrative Judge’s Office as a Principal Court Attorney and Court Attorney-Referee. Prior to his ascension to District Executive, he also served as the Chief Clerk of the Suffolk County District Court. In all, Clark served for five successive Administrative Judges: Justices Crecca, Hinrichs, and Prudenti, as well as Hon. H. Patrick Leis III and Hon. Alan D. Oshrin—a long tenure that is a testament to Clark’s reliability and leadership skills.
Before his time with the courts, Clark began his legal career as an Assistant Suffolk County Attorney for six years and then served as a trial attorney at CGU Insurance Company for ten years. He is a graduate of SUNY Albany and Western New England School of Law.
Notably, Clark was instrumental to Suffolk’s court operations during the coronavirus pandemic, where his institutional wisdom and management skills were critical in overcoming the complicated challenges of those extraordinary times.
More than one hundred court employees—judges, clerks, court officers, and more—gathered at the main entrance of the John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex in Central Islip to say goodbye to their District Executive on his last day at work.