--- title: "Barbara R. Johnson Lee | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/barbara-r-johnson-lee" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Barbara R. Johnson Lee Erie County City Court · City Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Erie County City Court - State: New York - Role: City Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Barbara R. Johnson-Lee is a Buffalo City Court judge in New York, elected in 2014 and re‐elected in 2024, currently serving on the Erie County Court bench and presiding over specialized treatment courts - Barbara R. Johnson-Lee is a Democratic Party judge of the Buffalo City Court, with a term running from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2034 - Judge, City Court, Buffalo, Elected, 2015 to 2024 - Hearing Officer, Buffalo City Court, Small/Commercial Claims Division, up to 2010 - She describes becoming a judge as her greatest professional achievement and values the law for its pursuit of truth, justice, and fairness ### Education - Buffalo University School of Law — J.D. (1986) - B.A. — State University of New York at Buffalo — 1981 - Undergraduate degree from the University at Buffalo (UB) and entered UB School of Law directly after graduation. - Canisius College ### Additional information - She was re‐elected in the November 5, 2024 general election. - The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., 2007 to 2014 - Before becoming a judge, she practiced law for over 16 years - handling matrimonial, criminal, and other cases, and also held the role of a Buffalo City Court hearing officer and Legal Aid staff attorney University at Buffalo School of Law - In addition to her Buffalo City Court role, she serves as an Acting Judge for Erie County Court, where she presides over treatment courts for veterans, mental health, and drug cases, as well as the Judicial Diversion Program - Born in Kingston, Jamaica to Lucius and Gladys Johnson, Johnson-Lee moved to the U.S. as a teenager, later attending high school in White Plains, NY. - She has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient for the Judiciary at UB School of Law ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### recording and photography Scope: statewide New York statewide rules require permission before photographing, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, or telecasting in court facilities, including courtrooms. Evidence excerpt: Taking photographs, films or videotapes, or audiotaping, broadcasting or telecasting, in a courthouse including any courtroom, office or hallway thereof, at any time or on any occasion, whether or not the court is in session, is forbidden, unless permission of the Chief Administrator of the Courts or a designee of the Chief Administrator is first obtained [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### evidence presentation control Scope: statewide The official Guide to New York Evidence identifies court control over presentation of evidence as a statewide evidence topic; counsel should expect the assigned judge to control the mode and order of proof. Evidence excerpt: 1.07. COURT CONTROL OVER PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE [Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role](https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/evidence/1-GENERAL/1-generalprovisions.shtml) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### electronic appearances Scope: statewide For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements. Evidence excerpt: For all hybrid proceedings, all electronic appearances shall be projected in the physical courtroom in which the in-person portion of the proceeding is taking place in such a manner as to provide a reasonable opportunity for members of the public to view and hear the participants appearing electronically. [Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### justice court civil procedure Scope: statewide New York Part 214 applies statewide to civil actions and proceedings in Town, Village, and City Justice Courts outside New York City; each court establishes and posts its regular sessions, subject to modification by the Chief Administrator. Evidence excerpt: This Part shall be applicable to all actions and proceedings in the Town, Village and City Justice Courts of the State of New York, outside the City of New York. [Part 214: Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-214-uniform-civil-rules-justice-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-27 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=Tlfrp_PLUS_d1wHCv7EgNVq560A%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=Tlfrp_PLUS_d1wHCv7EgNVq560A%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=Tlfrp_PLUS_d1wHCv7EgNVq560A%3D%3D) - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true) - [Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role](https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/evidence/1-GENERAL/1-generalprovisions.shtml) - [Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction) - [Part 214: Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-214-uniform-civil-rules-justice-courts) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. Barbara R. Johnson-Lee](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=Tlfrp_PLUS_d1wHCv7EgNVq560A%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/barbara-r-johnson-lee", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/barbara-r-johnson-lee", "name": "Barbara R. Johnson Lee | KnowJudges", "description": "Barbara R. Johnson Lee, Erie County City Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/barbara-r-johnson-lee#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/barbara-r-johnson-lee#judge", "name": "Barbara R. 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Johnson Lee", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/barbara-r-johnson-lee" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-5e0f997e8c334d15fbc4) — State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction). Collected 2026-10-27. - [22 NYCRR Part 210 — Uniform Civil Rules City Courts Outside City New York](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-f979bc267acf4bd3f61f) — Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-210-uniform-civil-rules-city-courts-outside-city-new-york). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-99a7824bb8e009643f842c03) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-34fe480ab82f22fa3c31d257) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true). Collected 2026-07-26.