Bernadette T. Clark at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2029
Bernadette T. Clark
Supreme Court Justice · Oneida County Supreme Court
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Biography
Professional career
- Justice of the Oneida County Supreme Court in New York’s 5th Judicial District, serving since 2006 and currently on the bench for a term through 2029
- Acting Deputy Administrative Justice, New York Supreme Court, Oneida County, NY, 2020-present
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Oneida County, NY, 2006-2019
- Judge, Oneida County Family Court, NY, 2001-2005
- Assistant District Attorney, Oneida County Disrict Attorney's Office, 1994-2000
- Presiding judge of the Integrated Domestic Violence Court for three years
Education
- magna cum laude — Syracuse University — 1989
- cum laude — University of Notre Dame — 1974
Additional information
- Practitioner, Petrone & Petrone, P.C., Utica, NY, 1992-1993
- Practitioner, Bond, Schoeneck & King, Labor/Litigation Department, Syracuse, NY, 1989-1992
- Official court page: Oneida County Supreme Court Judges – Bernadette T. Clark New York State Unified Court System
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
New York statewide rules require permission before photographing, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, or telecasting in court facilities, including courtrooms.
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 obtainedPart 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗
Exhibits
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.
1.07. COURT CONTROL OVER PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCEGuide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗
Statewide
In New York Supreme Court and County Court civil cases, the court may require indexed trial exhibit binders, notebooks, or electronic equivalents for the court, counsel, and witnesses.
The court may direct that on the first day of trial or at such other time as the court may set, counsel shall submit an indexed binder or notebook, or the electronic equivalent, of trial exhibits for the court's use.Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗
Statewide
Civil trial counsel in New York Supreme Court and County Court must confer before trial and attempt to agree on exhibits to be offered without objection, unless the court directs otherwise.
Counsel for the parties shall consult prior to trial and shall in good faith attempt to agree upon the exhibits that will be offered into evidence without objection.Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
For Commercial Division matters, New York rules encourage Virtual Evidence Courtrooms for managing and presenting trial evidence after authorization by request or court direction.
Virtual Evidence Courtrooms (VECs) may be used to facilitate real-time access to trial exhibits and other relevant documents.Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗
Statewide
For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (44 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Communications with chambers
Scheduling of conferences may be done with the Secretary and should be arranged by email or telephone by providing available dates and times that are convenient for all counsel. Letter requests for conferences should provide reasoning for why a conference is necessary and should provide a list of available dates and times that are convenient for all counsel. The Court, in its discretion, will determine whether a requested conference should be conducted in-person or virtually.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Unless specifically requested or unless it must be provided in connection with a pending motion or upcoming conference, the Court does not wish to be copied on contentious correspondence between counsel.
Source page 1Courtroom conduct and technology
Matters not addressed herein shall be governed by the CPLR and the Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court (22 NYCRR Part 202).
Source page 1Communications with chambers
All cases required to be filed electronically are to be filed through the New York State Courts E-Filing System (NYSCEF). All submissions to the Court, including proposed Orders, proposed Judgments, and correspondence must be electronically filed.
Source page 2Filing and working copies
Parties involved in e-filed cases before the Court shall familiarize themselves with the statewide E-Filing Rules available online at www.nycourts.gov/efile. General questions about E-Filing should be addressed to the E-Filing Resource Center at (646) 386-3033 or nyscef@nycourts.gov.
Source page 2Filing and working copies
Unless specifically requested by the Court, counsel need not provide the Court with working copies of documents filed electronically.
Source page 2Motion practice
1. Return Dates: Counsel must make motions returnable on one of Judge Clark’s predetermined return dates. Judge Clark’s 2026 motion return dates are included with these rules as Appendix A.
Source page 2Motion practice
2. Timing of Filing for Motion and Responsive Papers: Unless brought by Order to Show Cause, all motion papers must be filed and served at least twenty-eight (28) days before the return date. Answering papers and cross-motions, if any, must be filed and served at least fourteen (14) days before the return date. Reply papers, and answering papers to any cross-motions, must be filed and served at least seven (7) days before the return date. These deadlines will not be modified unless all counsel consent to such modification and the Court approves same.
Source page 2Adjournments
Requests to modify these deadlines must be submitted to Chambers in writing no later than 48 hours prior to expiration of the soonest impending deadline and must specifically state the agreement of counsel to the requested modification. The Court reserves the right to adjourn a motion’s return date to accommodate these deadlines and notice periods, should it deem such an adjournment necessary.
Source page 2Motion practice
3. Oral Argument: The Court, at its discretion, will determine whether it will hear oral argument with respect to a particular motion. All filed motions will be designated by the Court as either “in-person,” meaning the Court will hear oral argument, or “on submission,” meaning the Court will consider the motion on the papers alone, without oral argument. For motions designated as “in-person,” counsel must personally appear on the return date unless otherwise
Source page 2Motion practice
authorized; only in very rare cases will the Court permit virtual appearances on motion arguments. In-person arguments will be held in the Oneida County Courthouse, Part 1 Courtroom, 200 Elizabeth Street, Utica, New York.
Source page 3Motion practice
4. Timing of Dispositive Motions: Unless otherwise authorized by the Court, dispositive motions shall be filed within sixty (60) days of the filing of the trial note of issue and certificate of readiness.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
5. Filing in Non-E-Filed Cases: In cases that are not e-filed, original motion papers shall be filed with the County Clerk, accompanied by the requisite filing fee, if applicable. The Clerk will then forward the original, filed motion papers to Chambers. Counsel shall send original opposition and reply papers directly to Chambers. Do not submit courtesy copies to Chambers.
Source page 3Motion practice
6. Filing in E-Filed Cases: In cases that are e-filed, motion papers shall be filed via NYSCEF. The Court does not require working copies of e-filed motion papers.
Source page 3Motion practice
7. No Submissions Via Email: Absent express permission obtained in advance from the Court, motion papers may not be submitted to the Court via email.
Source page 3Adjournments
8. Adjournments: Adjournment requests shall be made to the Court in writing at least 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) before the scheduled return date of the motion. The attorney requesting the adjournment should confer with all opposing attorneys prior to making an adjournment request and shall specifically indicate whether the request is on consent. Adjournments are limited to sixty (60) days in accordance with 22 NYCRR § 202.8 (e) (1).
Source page 3Motion practice
11.Discovery Motions: No discovery motion may be filed unless counsel personally confer to resolve the discovery issue in accordance with 22 NYCRR § 202.7 and the motion papers demonstrate compliance with that section. Additionally, if the case is covered by a Preliminary Conference Stipulation and Order (PCSO), such Order requires, as a prerequisite to motion practice, that a conference be held with
Source page 3Discovery
the Judge’s Law Clerk in an attempt to resolve the discovery dispute. That conference shall be requested by letter for a date convenient to all counsel. Prior to the conference, each party shall provide the Court with a brief letter (no more than 2 pages) outlining their position relative to the discovery dispute(s).
Source page 4Motion practice
12.Contempt Motions: Contempt motions must be commenced by Order to Show Cause, and personal service is required.
Source page 4Motion practice
14. Motions for Settlement of Infant Claims: All motions for the settlement of infant claims shall be submitted in full compliance with CPLR 1208, following which the Court will schedule an appearance for the moving party/petitioner, as well as the infant and his or her counsel. Counsel shall submit a proposed Order granting the application at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled appearance.
Source page 4Artificial intelligence
Every attorney or party who uses an artificial intelligence (AI) tool in preparing any paper submitted to this court is expected to understand that tool’s capabilities and limitations. Attorneys and parties need to be aware that AI tools, among other risks and limitations, can generate fabricated information or fictitious citations to authority (commonly known as hallucinations). Under existing authority, by signing a paper and submitting it to this court, an attorney or party certifies that the paper does not contain any false material factual statement or any frivolous legal argument (see e.g. 22 NYCRR §§ 130-1.1 and 130-1.1a), and an attorney who submits any paper to this court is additionally bound by the Rules of Professional Conduct. Accordingly, any attorney or party who uses an artificial intelligence tool, as defined in 22 NYCRR § 161.2 (a), in preparing any paper, as defined in 22 NYCRR § 161.2 (b), filed in or submitted to this court or served on another party in a case before this court is required to carefully review the paper and independently ensure that it contains no fabricated or fictitious cases, statutes, or other material. By signing such paper, an attorney or party certifies that such a review has been conducted and that the paper contains no such fabricated or fictitious content. If this court determines that this requirement has not been satisfied, such attorney or party may be subject to sanction or other remedial action.
Source page 4Conferences and appearances
If an Order or Judgment is submitted for signature with respect to an oral or written decision, the submitting party shall do so in a timely fashion. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, such Order shall first be submitted for approval of its form and content to all other counsel. Once submitted for signature, it shall be accompanied with a letter from the submitting counsel stating that all counsel have approved the same as to form and content. In the absence of approval as to form and content, the notice of settlement procedure provided in 22 NYCRR § 202.48 shall be used. For those cases that are not e-filed, the submitting counsel shall provide the Court with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of all signed Orders, Judgments, and Orders to Show Cause.
Source page 5Discovery
Counsel should be aware that discovery will not be stayed while the parties pursue ADR. As the ADR process proceeds, the case simultaneously will proceed on its normal litigation track.
Source page 6Discovery
Upon receipt of the form PCSO and letter from the Court, counsel shall confer and attempt to agree upon an ADR plan and discovery deadlines. If counsel are unable to agree upon the terms of a PCSO by the date listed in the Court’s letter, the Court will schedule and hold a conference at which counsel will be required to appear. The purpose of that conference will be for the Court to impose an ADR plan and select discovery deadlines to fill out the form PCSO.
Source page 6Conferences and appearances
If a preliminary conference is required due to the inability of counsel to agree upon the terms of a PCSO, the Court requires that the following information be
Source page 6Conferences and appearances
2. counsel for plaintiff must submit a copy of the summons and complaint and any verified bill of particulars, together with a brief (no longer than 2 pages) summary outlining the case and any issues to be discussed at the preliminary conference; and
Source page 7Conferences and appearances
3. counsel for defendant must submit a copy of the answer and any verified bill of particulars with respect to any counterclaim(s), together with a brief (no longer than 2 pages) summary outlining the case and any issues to be discussed at the preliminary conference.
Source page 7Conferences and appearances
Prior to a preliminary conferences in a contested matrimonial case, counsel must file, in addition to the information set forth immediately above, a Statement of Net Worth and a Retainer Agreement. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, clients are expected to be present at preliminary conferences in matrimonial cases.
Source page 7Conferences and appearances
At least three (3) days prior to any compliance conference scheduled by the Court, each party shall file with the Court a summary (no longer than 4 pages) of their contentions of the facts, liability, damages, and defenses.
Source page 7Adjournments
Counsel attending any settlement or final conference must be fully familiar with the case, must have pertinent portions of the file with them, and must have authority to discuss settlement. The Court, at its discretion, may require clients and/or representatives of insurance carriers to attend. All counsel shall confer prior to the date of the conference to discuss settlement and the resolution of any trial issues. Postponement of any trial after a final pre-trial settlement conference is discouraged and will not be granted absent extraordinary circumstances.
Source page 7Conferences and appearances
In medical malpractice cases in which the consent of a defendant and/or the authority of a malpractice insurance carrier are required to settle a matter, the Court will not conduct a settlement conference if such consent or authority are lacking. If the Court has scheduled a settlement conference in a medical malpractice case and counsel is aware that a defendant has not provided consent or that a carrier has not provided authority to settle, counsel shall advise the Court of such fact no later than 48 hours prior to the time of the conference.
Source page 7Adjournments
Requests to adjourn conferences shall be made to the Court in writing at least 48 hours (not including weekends and holidays) before the time of the conference. The requesting counsel should confer with opposing counsel prior to making the request and specifically indicate if the request is on consent. The requesting counsel should also provide proposed new dates and a reason for the adjournment.
Source page 8Discovery
1. Expert disclosure shall be provided by Plaintiff(s) ninety (90) days before trial. Expert disclosure shall be provided by Defendant(s) sixty (60) days before trial.
Source page 8Discovery
2. Marked pleadings shall be presented to the Court before jury selection. Copies of bills of particulars, discovery responses, and expert reports should be available.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
3. Jury selection shall follow one of the authorized methods contained with 22 NYCRR § 202.33, as the parties may agree. The Court may preside over a portion of or the entire jury selection process, as the Court may deem appropriate. Time limits on counsel may be imposed. Counsel are to confine their voir dire questions to the qualifications of the jurors.
Source page 8Motion practice
4. Any motions in limine shall be in writing and timely served on all counsel prior to trial, based upon a deadline set forth in a trial letter from the Court.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
5. Trial exhibits shall be pre-marked by the Court Reporter, and it is the duty of trial counsel to make arrangements, through court staff, to have their trial exhibits pre- marked. Additionally, counsel shall confer prior to trial to determine if any exhibits can be admitted into evidence on stipulation, and shall advise the Court of any such stipulations prior to trial. Upon the admission of an exhibit at trial, the proponent of the exhibit shall provide a complete copy of it to the Court.
Source page 8Filing and working copies
6. Experts who testify at trial shall bring their entire file and all documents considered in arriving at their opinion with them to Court. Failure to do so may result in an expert’s testimony being limited or stricken. Such files must be in hard copy form, and digital files will not be deemed acceptable.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
7. A list (without the charge) of Pattern Jury Instruction (PJI) jury requests shall be provided to the Court by no later than the deadline listed in the trial letter from the Court, but in no case later than ten (10) days prior to trial. Other requests shall
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
8. Counsel shall alert the Court, in advance, as to any anticipated requests for a jury instruction relative to missing witnesses or evidence.
Source page 9Trial exhibits and witnesses
9. At trial, counsel shall stand to make objections and shall briefly state the ground(s) for the objection.
Source page 9Trial exhibits and witnesses
10. Verdict sheets: counsel shall cooperate to prepare an agreed-upon verdict sheet. If an agreement cannot be reached, then the parties shall submit separate proposed verdict sheets following the suggested forms in the PJI. Each question shall be on a separate page. All verdict sheets shall be in a final, typewritten form that can be given to the jury.
Source page 9Trial exhibits and witnesses
In non-jury cases, each party shall submit post-trial proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. Within the proposed findings of fact, counsel shall cite to the record. The Court may also, at its discretion, request memoranda of law and/or written summations, as it deems appropriate.
Source page 9Adjournments
If a case has been settled or is otherwise being discontinued, counsel shall promptly advise the Court of same in writing and a notice of discontinuance or stipulation of discontinuance—whichever is applicable—shall be filed. Counsel also must ensure that Chambers is provided with a filed copy of the notice or stipulation of discontinuance.
Source page 9Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Oneida County Supreme Court
State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-2722 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court
Oneida County Supreme Court
Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Oneida County Supreme Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Oneida County Supreme Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction ↗