Gail Prudenti

Background

About Gail Prudenti

Hon. Gail Prudenti joined Burner Prudenti Law as Partner in August 2023. She has distinguished herself as a well-respected jurist and hands-on administrator throughout a judicial career that lasted more than two decades. Judge Prudenti served as the Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts of New York State, having been appointed by Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman on December 1, 2011. As Chief Administrative Judge, she supervised the administration and operation of the statewide court system, with a budget of over $2.7 billion, 3,600 state and locally paid judges and non-judicial employees in over 350 court facilities. Prior to her appointment as Chief Administrative Judge, she served as the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department in New York State, the first woman to hold that position, having been appointed thereto, in February 2002, by then-Gov. George E. Pataki. Before that, she was the first woman from Suffolk County to serve as an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department. From May 2017 to June 2023, Judge Prudenti served as the tenth dean of Hofstra Law. As Dean, Judge Prudenti spearheaded the Law School’s 50th anniversary celebration and Vision 2020 capital campaign, which raised $22 million, far surpassing the initial goal and the stretch goal of $17.5 million. She is also a Founding Member of Mediation Solutions of NY, a women-owned business with three female founding members. The firm provides in-person and virtual mediation and arbitration services for attorneys and their clients across Long Island and New York City with offices in Islandia, East Hampton, Southampton, Westhampton Beach, and Manhattan. In January 2025, Judge Prudenti was appointed as Chair of the Suffolk County Bar Association (SCBA) Judicial Screening Committee. This prestigious committee is responsible for thoroughly evaluating the background, experience, and qualifications of candidates seeking judicial office in Suffolk County, ensuring that only the most qualified individuals are considered for the bench. Judge Prudenti earned her law degree from the University of Aberdeen, in Scotland, which also awarded her an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2004 and an honorary appointment as Professor in the School of Law. She was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2016 from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law. She graduated from Marymount College of Fordham University with honors.