WBASNY Virtual Convention 2021 Journal

Stephanie Kupferman Juvenile Justice Award

Hon. Helene D. Sacco Hon. Helene Donlan Sacco is a Family Court Judge of the City of New York, and the Supervising Judge of the Richmond County Family Court. She was first appointed to the New York City Family Court in 2006 by former mayor Michael Bloomberg and assigned to the Kings Family Court where she presided over Custody, Visitation, Family Offense, and Child Protection cases until 2010. In February of 2010, Judge Sacco transferred to the Richmond Family Court, and was appointed later that year as the Supervising Judge; making it the first time that Richmond County Family Court had its

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own Supervising Judge. Judge Sacco continues to sit in the Richmond Family Court, where in addition to her administrative duties, she presides mainly over cases involving Juvenile Delinquency, Persons in Need of Supervision and the Youth Part. Prior to her appointment as a Family Court Judge, Judge Saccco was a Court Attorney for nine years and assigned to the now retired Hon. Philip S. Straniere while he was in Civil Court and Supervising Judge. Judge Sacco also served as a Small Claims Court Arbitrator until her appointment to the bench in 2010.In prior years, Judge Sacco worked as a Court Attorney in the Supreme Court, Kings County, and engaged in the private practice of law for almost 20 years. In addition, to her legal experience, she has taught Government and Politics in an adjunct position at St. John’s University, and civil and criminal law classes at Monsignor Farrell High School, Staten Island. She also taught religious instruction at Sacred Heart School, Staten Island. Judge Sacco received her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law (1977) and her B.A. Magna Cum Laude from St. John’s University (1974), where she majored in Government and Politics. She was the Editor-in-Chief of “The Forum,” the official newspaper of the Law School. She has been admitted to the New York State bar since 1978 as well as the Federal Southern and Eastern Districts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Sacco is a member of the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Children, the New York State Bar Association, and the Richmond County and Staten Island Women’s Bar Associations. She served as a member of the Richmond County Bar Association’s Board of Directors in the late 1970s. She also served as Vice-President of the Staten Island Women’s Bar Association and a delegate to the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York.

In her “spare time,” Judge Sacco enjoys reading, gardening outdoor and nature activities, music and very occasionally finds the time to play the piano, which she has done since age nine.