Hon. Sharon S. Townsend was appointed Administrative Judge of the Eighth Judicial District on January 1, 2003, the first woman to be named to this position in this district and the first Family Court Judge in the State to be appointed Administrative Judge. Judge Townsend was elected to the New York State Supreme Court in November, 2003. Judge Townsend was previously elected to the Family Court in 1991 and was re-elected to a second 10 year term in November, 2001. In 1996, Judge Townsend was named Supervising Judge of the Family Court of the Eighth Judicial District.

Prior to her election to the Family Court bench, Judge Townsend was a Village Justice in the Village of Williamsville for seven years. A native of Connecticut, she is a graduate of the University of Rochester and the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Judge Townsend serves on the Board of Trustees and was a model court lead judge for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Judge Townsend is a member of the Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children. Judge Townsend served as chair of the Family Court Advisory and Rules Committee for the New York State Office of Court Administration for four years.

Judge Townsend has been recognized for her work on behalf of children and families by receiving the Court Appointed Special Advocates Light of Hope award, the Gateway Friend of Children award and the Erie County Bar Association named her the Jurist of the Year in 2001. In March, 2004, she was recognized by the County of Erie as one of the Women Making History in Erie County.

Information about Judge Townsend is also available on the Judicial Directory.