Title: Administrative Law Judge
Company: Office of Administrative Hearings
Location: Farmingdale, New York, United States
Israel Napoleon Castillo-Hanna, Esq., Administrative Law Judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements and leadership in Family Law.
Mr. Castillo-Hanna has established a notable career in law, marked by a decade of professional experience and a reputation for honesty and diligence recognized by his peers. Since 2024, he has served as an administrative law judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings in New York. In this capacity, Mr. Castillo-Hanna presides over cases under the Office of Temporary Disability and Assistance, including matters related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, public assistance, Medicaid benefits and Medicare benefits.
Among a range of responsibilities, Mr. Castillo-Hanna is tasked with reviewing and adjudicating appeals following adverse decisions on state or federal benefits, conducting formal hearings and ensuring due process for appellants. He is known for his thorough approach to each case and his commitment to upholding the rights of individuals seeking assistance. Notably, appellants appearing before Mr. Castillo-Hanna may retain private counsel or seek support from local nonprofit organizations or agencies.
Before his current appointment, Mr. Castillo-Hanna practiced law in Suffolk County on Long Island for about two years as a junior associate at McGuire, Pelaez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C., a general practice law firm, from 2022 to 2024, with a focus on family law. Upon joining the firm, he assumed responsibility for all family law matters, handling every trial, hearing and case personally, a significant shift from the firm’s previous reliance on outside counsel for family court trials. Mr. Castillo-Hanna’s expertise extended beyond family law to include traffic law, small claims and town violations arising in criminal cases.
From 2016 to 2022, Mr. Castillo-Hanna served as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing legal representation to those unable to afford private counsel. He began his tenure in the Family Court Bureau, representing parents in family court cases involving child custody, abuse and neglect. Mr. Castillo-Hanna’s work contributed significantly to protecting constitutional rights for children and families navigating complex legal challenges.
Before graduating from college, Mr. Castillo-Hanna worked as a research assistant at the Library of Congress in 2009, where he developed research skills that would later inform his legal practice. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in family law and has become regarded as an expert in this field.
Mr. Castillo-Hanna’s academic achievements have played a pivotal role in shaping his professional journey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Florida International University (FIU) in Miami in 2012 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence in common law from Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, in 2015. He was admitted to practice by the New York State Bar Association in 2016.
Becoming active in several professional organizations, Mr. Castillo-Hanna has served as the vice president of the Political Science Honor Society at FIU. He has also participated in both the Student Ethics Association and the Golden Key International Honor Society. These on-campus opportunities allowed Mr. Castillo-Hanna to network with like-minded individuals and become more engaged in his field.
After passing the bar exam and relocating to New York, Mr. Castillo-Hanna unexpectedly entered family law. He embraced opportunities that arose from interviews with local legal aid organizations seeking Spanish-speaking attorneys for criminal defense roles. Mr. Castillo-Hanna’s adaptability led him to accept a position focused on family law, a decision that shaped the trajectory of his career.
Mr. Castillo-Hanna’s path to becoming an attorney was influenced by his upbringing as one of five siblings under a father who emphasized academic achievement. Despite facing a speech impediment during his formative years, a challenge that made communication difficult, he persevered by actively pursuing public speaking opportunities and turning this obstacle into a strength that would serve him well throughout his legal career.
Drawing constant inspiration from his wife, also an attorney specializing in family law, Mr. Castillo-Hanna values intellectual pursuits outside his professional life. Looking ahead, he seeks to expand his professional portfolio by establishing a limited liability company and earning an advanced degree to teach part-time at the college level. While committed to his legal profession, Mr. Castillo-Hanna aims to broaden his influence within New York’s legal community and pursue future judicial aspirations as an appellate justice. His career reflects not only technical expertise but also integrity and dedication, qualities consistently recognized by colleagues who commend his exceptional service to clients.
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