Craig Hannah at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Craig Hannah
Justice · Erie County Supreme Court
Judicial assignments
- New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth DepartmentAssociate JusticeSource checked October 15, 2026. Roster source
These published assignments do not certify a complete bench.
Biography
Professional career
- Justice, Supreme Court, Erie County, Elected, 2023 to 2036
- Also a justice of the New York Supreme Court, 8th Judicial District, elected in November 2022 for a full 14-year term ending 2036
- 2006–2019: Buffalo City Court Judge, later Chief Judge (2019–2022)
- 2016–2019: Supervising Judge of 11 city courts in Western New York’s 8th Judicial District — the first Supervising Judge of Color in the region
- 2017: Presiding judge of the first Opioid Intervention Court in the U.S., established in Buffalo
- 2008: Acting Erie County Court Judge (juvenile matters)
- Justice Hannah is widely recognized for his leadership in treatment courts and addiction recovery initiatives
Education
Additional information
- Craig D. Hannah joined the Appellate Division, Fourth Department by Governor Kathy Hochul on March 28, 2024, and serves until 2026.
- Current court assignment: Supreme Court, Erie County
- Craig D. Hannah is an Associate Justice of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, and former Chief Judge of Buffalo City Court, known for pioneering the first Opioid Intervention Court in the U.S
- He has lectured nationally and internationally on treatment courts, stigma reduction, and recovery, and is a personal example of long-term sobriety (over 20 years clean)
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
New York statewide rules require permission before photographing, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, or telecasting in court facilities, including courtrooms.
Taking photographs, films or videotapes, or audiotaping, broadcasting or telecasting, in a courthouse including any courtroom, office or hallway thereof, at any time or on any occasion, whether or not the court is in session, is forbidden, unless permission of the Chief Administrator of the Courts or a designee of the Chief Administrator is first obtainedPart 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗
Exhibits
Statewide
The official Guide to New York Evidence identifies court control over presentation of evidence as a statewide evidence topic; counsel should expect the assigned judge to control the mode and order of proof.
1.07. COURT CONTROL OVER PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCEGuide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Erie County Supreme Court
State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-2722 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court
Erie County Supreme Court
Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Practice Rules of the Appellate Division — 22 NYCRR Part 1250
New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department
Appellate Division matters only; not Appellate Terms or the Court of Appeals. Preserve the applicable department rules.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Erie County Supreme Court; New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Erie County Supreme Court; New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 27, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster ↗Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗