Judge Stephen A. Bucaria: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Stephen A. Bucaria is a Justice of the Nassau County Supreme Court in the Tenth Judicial District of New York. He was elected to the Supreme Court in 1996 and re-elected in 2010. Prior to these elections, Justice Bucaria sat as a judge for the Nassau County District Court beginning in 1993.

He graduated with his B.A. from Fairfield University in 1970. He went on to earn his M.A. in criminal justice from the State University of New York at Albany in 1971. Bucaria later received his J.D. from Hofstra University, Maurice A. Deane School of Law in 1976.

In 1996, Bucaria became an active member of the New York State Guard. During his tenure in the New York Guard, Bucaria was commissioned as a Major in 1997 and served as a Judge Advocate General with the Civil and Military Affairs Unit in 1999. He was also promoted to Lieutenant Colonel that same year. In 2001, he became the Acting Commander of the 13th Regiment, which would later be deployed to New York City to offer logistical support to other military agencies after the 9/11 attacks. Bucaria was promoted to Colonel and then named Commander of the 13th Regiment in 2002. Later that same year, he became the Acting Commander of the 54th Civil Affairs Brigade. In 2003, Bucaria was promoted to Brigadier General and in 2006 became Deputy Commander of the New York Guard.

As a civilian, Bucaria worked as a legislative assistant to former New York Senator John R. Dunne from 1971 to 1976. Then, after graduating from law school, he joined the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, where he served as an assistant district attorney until 1979.

It was at that time that Bucaria entered into solo practice, where he specialized in surrogate, real estate, and complex commercial litigation. He left private practice in 1987 to work as a law secretary for the Hon. Gabriel Kohn with the New York State Court of Claims, during which time he also served as a law secretary for the Hon. Angelo D. Roncallo with the Nassau County Supreme Court. He remained in that capacity until his election to the District Court in 1993.

He has taught as an adjunct professor at the Long Island University at C.W. Post and taught as a visiting Professor of Sociology at the University of Alberta in Canada.

During his judicial tenure, Justice Bucaria has also served in the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court.

His memberships have included the Colombian Lawyers, the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, and the Irish in Government. Bucaria was also past president of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Rockville Centre.

During his service in the New York State Guard, Bucaria received numerous commendations including the New York State Meritorious Service Medal, the New York State Long and Faithful Service, the New York State Defense of Liberty Medal, and the New York Guard Service Ribbon, just to name a few.