Brooklyn legal aid veteran Justin Barry appointed as executive director of OCA

August 3, 2023 Rob Abruzzese

Justin Barry (left, standing at the podium) was appointed as executive director of the Office of Court Administration. Eagle file photos by Robert Abruzzese

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Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas announced on Thursday the appointment of Justin Barry, a seasoned legal figure from Brooklyn, as the new executive director of the Office of Court Administration (OCA).

As executive director, Barry will manage the OCA, setting priorities, planning projects and initiatives, and providing critical policy recommendations. He will perform these duties under the guidance of Judge Zayas and First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George.

Barry’s unique blend of skills and substantial experience in court operations makes him an apt choice for this demanding role. He is known for his remarkable professionalism, vision and work ethic, qualities he has cultivated over two decades serving in various court management roles.

“Justin Barry is a talented administrator whose knowledge of court operations is unparalleled,” Justice Zayas said. “He has served the court system with distinction for more than two decades, taking on a range of court management roles and responsibilities over the years.

“Justin is widely respected throughout the court and legal community for his professionalism, vision and work ethic,” Zayas went on to say. “He is an ideal choice to assume the multiple demands of this important assignment. I look forward to working with him in carrying out OCA’s mandate to provide critical services in support of the court system’s essential mission.”

Echoing Judge Zayas, First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge St. George commended Barry’s abilities as a “strategic thinker and natural leader,” noting his impressive reputation for “keen intellect, sound judgment, hard work and lifelong dedication to public service.”

Prior to his new appointment, Barry held the position of OCA’s chief of administration, where he advised the chief judge and OCA’s leadership team on complex administrative and legal matters. He has also managed the Criminal Court of New York City, the country’s busiest criminal court, and served as principal court attorney and citywide drug court coordinator. Before joining the court system, Barry worked as a senior staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society in his home borough of Brooklyn.

Barry, a graduate of Haverford College and Villanova University School of Law, has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the 2019 Warren E. Burger Award for Excellence in Court Administration and the 2014 Bernard Botein Medal from the New York City Bar Association.

The restructuring of the Office of Court Administration will see Barry managing all OCA divisions. Concurrently, Nancy Barry, unrelated to Justin Barry, will transition to a new operational role in the Ninth Judicial District in White Plains after serving as the chief of operations for the OCA.