LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending The Honorable Joseph J. Cassata upon
the occasion of his retirement after many years of distinguished service
as Tonawanda City Court Judge

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those singular individuals who devote their purposeful lives
and careers to preserving the rights and protecting the welfare of the
citizens of their community and the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, The quality and character of life in the Tonawanda community
has been ably served and uniquely enriched through the selfless dedi-
cation and benevolent concern of Judge Joseph J. Cassata; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend The Honor-
able Joseph J. Cassata upon the occasion of his retirement after many
years of distinguished service as Tonawanda City Court Judge; and
WHEREAS, Joseph J. Cassata earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Poli-
tical Science at the University of Buffalo and his Juris Doctorate
degree at the University of Cincinnati; and
WHEREAS, Following the completion of his studies, Joseph J. Cassata
was elected Corporation Counsel to the City of Tonawanda, a position he
held for 23 years; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed public servant has served as the City Court
Judge of the City of Tonawanda where he has presided on a part-time and
full-time basis for many years; and
WHEREAS, Prior to presiding on the bench full-time, Judge Joseph J.
Cassata was engaged in a general practice of law for approximately 30
years; his area of specialization was criminal defense; and
WHEREAS, During his illustrious tenure, Judge Joseph J. Cassata spear-
headed an Adult Drug Treatment Court in the City Court of Tonawanda, and
was certified as a National Drug Treatment Court Judge after matriculat-
ing at Georgetown Law School; and
WHEREAS, Recently, Judge Joseph J. Cassata formulated and implemented
the first young adult drug treatment court in New York State, a program
which is already showing great promise and success; and
WHEREAS, A respected legal expert, Judge Joseph J. Cassata has served
as President of the New York State Association of City Court Judges, and
as Chairman of the Local Courts Advisory Committee of New York State;
and
WHEREAS, Judge Joseph J. Cassata has lectured on a national, state and
local basis and was invited to speak at the University of London,
England, on drug treatment courts in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Currently, Judge Joseph J. Cassata serves as President of the
New York Association of Drug Treatment Court Professionals, Inc., and
Presiding Member of the Local Courts Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, An integral part of his community, Joseph J. Cassata has
served as legal counsel to the United Way, the Tonawanda Industrial
Expansion Corporation, the Boys and Girls Club of the Tonawandas, the
Tonawanda Fireman's Benevolent Association and the Chamber of Commerce
of the Tonawandas; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Judge Joseph J. Cassata is also very active in
the domestic violence field, co-chairing a domestic violence committee
which set up standards for the eighth Judicial District; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous awards and honors for his outstand-
ing service Judge Joseph J. Cassata was named Man of the Year by numer-
ous community organization's including the YWCA and the Boys and Girls
Club of the Tonawandas; and
WHEREAS, Judge Joseph J. Cassata has also received the 2004 Tonawanda
High School Distinguished Alumni Award, the City of Tonawanda Youth

Service's John F. Kopczynski Award, and the 2002 YWCA of the Tonawandas
Domestic Violence Program Award; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Joyce, their three
children, Joseph, Roman, and Jason, and seven grandchildren, all of whom
feel privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his achieve-
ments; and
WHEREAS, Judge Joseph J. Cassata, in every capacity in which he
served, has left his permanent mark on the criminal justice and drug
treatment community; he will forever be remembered as a determined,
innovative and genuinely concerned expert in his field; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend The Honorable Joseph J. Cassata upon the occasion of his retire-
ment after many years of distinguished service as Tonawanda City Court
Judge and to extend its sincere gratitude for his contribution to the
people of New York State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Joseph J. Cassata.