2026 New York General Election

Matthew G Kiernan

Kiernan also served as Hofstra Law’s Director of Policy and Planning for the Center for Children, Families, and the Law, and as a member of its Executive Board assisting the Center’s Executive Director in all phases of the operation, structure, and development of the Center, including the launching of its two demonstration projects: Guardianship for Indigent and Developmentally Delayed Youth and a mediation project for separating and divorcing parents.

He earned his J.D. from Villanova University and his B.A. from Johns Hopkins University.

Matthew Kiernan, Former Suffolk County Public Administrator, Joins Burner Prudenti Law, P.C.

Matthew G Kiernan earned a Bachelor of Arts from Johns Hopkins University and a law degree from Villanova University.

Matthew Kiernan, Former Suffolk County Public Administrator, Joins ...

From 2011-2016, Kiernan was Special Counsel to Judge Gail Prudenti, then Chief Administrative Judge of the State of New York, advising Judge Prudenti on issues involving the administration and operation of a court system with 3,500 Judges, over 15,000 personnel and a budget in excess of two billion dollars.

From 2002-2010, Kiernan served as Deputy Clerk of the Court and Director of Professional Services, and then Clerk of the Court for the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department — the highest non-judicial position in the Court.

Matthew G Kiernan previously served as special counsel to Judge Gail Prudenti, then chief administrative judge of the State of New York. He also served as deputy clerk of the court and director of professional services before becoming clerk of the court for the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department.

Joined Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. as counsel after serving as Suffolk County Public Administrator.

Served as Suffolk County Public Administrator from 1998–2002 and 2018–2023, managing estates and guardianships, paying creditors, locating heirs, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.

Served as special counsel to New York’s chief administrative judge from 2011–2016, advising on court-system administration and operations.

Served as deputy clerk and later clerk of New York’s Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, from 2002–2010.

Served as director of policy and planning for Hofstra Law’s Center for Children, Families, and the Law, helping develop guardianship and family-mediation projects.

As of October 22, 2026, Matthew G Kiernan’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Served on Hofstra Law’s Center for Children, Families, and the Law executive board and helped launch youth guardianship and family mediation demonstration projects.

MR. KIERNAN: Sure. My name is Matthew Kiernan. I'm a resident of Cold Spring Harbor in Huntington. I have been an attorney for about 45 years working mostly in the court system and working for some very good judges that I think are familiar to this body including Gail Prudenti and the current surrogate of Suffolk County, Vincent Messina.

03052026-Ways--Means-Committee-Regular-Meeting-Minutes-PDF

He earned his J.D. from Villanova University and his B.A. from Johns Hopkins University.

Matthew G Kiernan earned a bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University and a law degree from Villanova University. He lives in Cold Spring Harbor.

Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. is pleased to announce that Matthew Kiernan, Esq., former Public Administrator of Suffolk County as appointed by the Surrogates Court, has joined the firm as Counsel. Kiernan brings decades of legal experience that includes time in private practice, public service, the court system, and academia.

After leaving the court system, Kiernan joined the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University where he worked from 2016-2018. He held a number of positions including Associate Dean of Academic Operations, Faculty Administrative Editor of the Family Court Review, and Adjunct Professor, teaching the Family Court Review Seminar and the Guardianship 17-A Practicum.

Kiernan also served as Hofstra Law’s Director of Policy and Planning for the Center for Children, Families, and the Law, and as a member of its Executive Board assisting the Center’s Executive Director in all phases of the operation, structure, and development of the Center, including the launching of its two demonstration projects: Guardianship for Indigent and Developmentally Delayed Youth and a mediation project for separating and divorcing parents.

Matthew works as counsel at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. He previously served as Suffolk County public administrator; special counsel to Judge Gail Prudenti; deputy clerk, director of professional services, and clerk for the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department; and associate dean of academic operations, faculty administrative editor, and adjunct professor at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. He also served as director of policy and planning for Hofstra Law's Center for Children, Families, and the Law.

1160, Confirming the appointment of Matthew G. Kiernan as District Court Judge for and of the Third Judicial District of the Suffolk County District Court System to fill a vacancy(Co. Exec.) I'll make that motion to approve. Any second?

Matthew was appointed as a District Court judge for the Third Judicial District of the Suffolk County District Court System to fill a vacancy.

Served as Suffolk County public administrator, managing estates and guardianships, including assets, creditors, heirs, distributions, and related litigation.

Served as special counsel to New York's chief administrative judge from 2011 to 2016, advising on court-system administration and operations.

Served as deputy clerk, director of professional services, and clerk for New York's Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, from 2002 to 2010.

Joined Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. as counsel after serving as Suffolk County public administrator.

Served on the Executive Board of Hofstra Law’s Center for Children, Families, and the Law, helping launch guardianship and family-mediation demonstration projects.