About Judge Susan M. Kushner
SEPTEMBER 2022
The Honorable Judge Susan M. Kushner is a Family Court Judge in Albany County, New York. Judge Kushner was a practicing attomey for over 25 years prior to taking the Bench in January, 2014..
““I developed a strong working relationship with CASA during my tenure on the bench. CASA has always been reliable and acts as my eyes and ears on cases to which it is assigned. I continue to be impressed with the high caliber and dedication of its’ volunteers. However, it is CASA’s flexibility and interest in remaining relevant to the needs of the Court and the communities it serves that is most impressive.””
Judge Kushner’s prior experience in the Family Court arena includes:
-Assistant Public Defender assigned exclusively to Family Court;
- Assistant County Attomey prosecuting Persons in Need of Supervision and Juvenile Delinquencies
Judge Kushner practiced law in the private sector and at various levels of govemment including the State, City and County of Albany. She is a 1985 graduate of Albany Law School.
Judge Kushner also serves as a full time Acting Supreme Court Judge and has been designated as Albany County's Lead Judge on the Statewide Court Improvement Program. She also presides over Family Court's Juvenile Treatment Court and Adult Treatment Court.
Judge Kushner was previously elected and served as a Member and Olficer of the Albany City School Board. She has been a longtime advocate for promoting school/community ties.
Judge Kushner is the first upstate Family Court Judge to have been appointed by the NYS Office of Children and Families to serve on its Independent Review Board, responsible for visiting and recommending improvements to youth placement facilities statewide.
Judge Kushner has independently developed programs to integrate Family Court as a recognized and integral part ofthe communities it serves, such as her "Kids in the Courtroom" Program. She has also established a free Supervised Parenting Time Program for use in custody cases. Most recently, she established a pilot program in Albany County Family Court permitting the appointment of CASA volunteers in custody matters.
Judge Kushner is a Member of the Board of Directors of the NYS Family Court Judge's Association and the Capital District Women's Bar Association, and a Member of the Albany County and NYS Bar Associations.
Judge Kushner has been married for 40 years; has three adult children and 4 grandchildren.