Hon. Henry (Hank) J. Nowak, Jr. ’93
Hon. Henry J. Nowak Jr. ’93 has risen in the judiciary, from Buffalo Housing Court to the State Supreme Court and now to associate justice, Appellate Division, Fourth Department. Before becoming a judge, he worked at two law firms, Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria and Connors LLP.
About this Interview
Interview Date(s)
Feb. 14, 2012, and April 4, 2024
Occasion
Harry Rachlin Oral History Project (2012) and as the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award for the Judiciary at the 61st Annual Dinner (2024)
Interviewed By
Nicholas Romano (2024)
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About the Hon. Henry (Hank) J. Nowak, Jr.
Justice Henry J. Nowak’s path to the bench included a detour from MIT’s engineering program to the University at Buffalo for a biology degree. A traumatic experience with a rat in biology class shifted his focus from medicine, leading him to law school after initially considering business.
Nowak, whose father was a renowned U.S. congressman representing Buffalo, said his upbringing instilled in him a deep connection to Buffalo. His dad, sister and uncles were lawyers, so following a legal path was expected. He initially considered environmental or patent law and worked at an environmental firm before taking Professor David Engel’s torts class. That sparked an interest in litigation, which was reinforced by Sheila DiTullio’s and Robert Murphy’s Trial Technique classes. Nowak valued the real-world experience gained through moot court and clinics in law school, which used a Quality/Honors grading system without class rankings. Upon graduation, he decided he wanted to be in a courtroom.
He practiced environmental litigation and personal injury law before being appointed to Buffalo’s Housing Court in 2002. During eight years in Housing Court, he implemented problem-solving programs, addressing issues such as vacant and drug houses, landlords and code violations. He brought banks into the foreclosure process and reached out to neighborhood groups. Nowak considers his tenure on Housing Court his greatest achievement.
When a vacancy came in the State Supreme Court, he threw his hat in the ring and was elected to a 14-year term. He oversaw matrimonial cases, emphasizing mediation and negotiation.
Nowak advises aspiring lawyers to explore diverse opportunities in law school to gain a broad base of experience and to prioritize work they enjoy, even if it means lower pay initially. He also stresses the importance of mentors, noting that he benefited from guidance by various individuals throughout his career, including Hon. John Curtin, Hon. Tracey Bannister, Hon. John Curran and Hon. John Licata.
Judge Nowak attributes his successful judicial career to comprehensive academic preparation, robust networking opportunities and the empowering environment provided by UB law school.
