Betty Calvo Torres at a glance
- Current role
- Court of Claims Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2027
Betty Calvo Torres
Court of Claims Judge · Erie County Court of Claims
Biography
Professional career
- Supervising Judge — Genesee and Wyoming County Town and Village Courts, 8th Judicial District, since January 2023
- Acting Justice, Supreme Court, Erie County, Designated by Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas 2022 to Present
- Judge of the Court of Claims, Appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul, June 2022 to present
- Acting County Court Judge, Erie County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2011 to 2022
- Judge, City Court, Buffalo, Elected, 2008 to 2017, Elected 2018 to 2022
- Buffalo City Court — Served 2007–2022, including as presiding judge of Drug, Mental Health, and Veterans’ Treatment Courts
- Adjunct Professor at Buffalo University School of Law, 2015 to 2021
- Judge, City Court, Buffalo, Appointed by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, 2007 to 2007
- Erie County District Attorney's Office, Assistant District Attorney, 1999 to 2004
- Supervising Judge, Genesee & Wyoming Town and Village Courts, Appointed by Admin
- Betty Calvo‐Torres is a New York State Court of Claims judge, supervising judge of Genesee and Wyoming County Town & Village Courts, and a former Buffalo City Court judge, recognized as the first Hispanic in Western New York to serve on the Court of Claims bench
Education
- Buffalo Law School — J.D.
- Binghamton University — B.A.
Additional information
- Judge 8th JD, Judge Amy Martoche, 2025 to present
- Judge 8th JD, Judge Kevin Carter, 2023 to present
- Faculty at NYS Judicial Institute, 2021 to present
- New York State Court of Claims — Appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022; also cross‐designated as an acting Supreme Court justice handling felony‐level criminal matters
- Private Practice, 2004 to 2007
- Public service — Commissioner of Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority; director of the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo
- Coordinating Judge of the Problem Solving Courts in the 8th JD, Appointed by Admin.
- Judge Calvo‐Torres has emphasized that her goal is to ensure every person “feels and knows that their concern... was heard, and that they were treated with respect and dignity”
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Courtroom Technology
Courtwide
The New York Court of Claims publishes courtroom evidence-presentation technology, including document/photo/object/video presentation and laptop connections in specified courtrooms.
With minimal effort, attorneys can present documents, color photos, objects, videos, and use electronic presentations to bring details to the court.Court of Claims Courtroom Technology ↗
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (4 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
Cases called by readiness of parties. Advise Court Clerk when all parties are present. All moving papers, responding papers, etc. must be delivered to chambers at least 5 days prior to the return date. Please follow the time schedules and procedures set forth in the CPL for Demands, Motions, Responding Papers, Etc. Assistant District Attorneys to provide a copy of NYSIS to the court prior to arraignments on indictments, bail motions, and SCI pleas. All SCI paperwork and Defendant information sheet is to be provided to the Court at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled plea.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
All motion papers (including responding papers) must be delivered to chambers at least 5 days prior to the return date. Please follow the time schedules and procedures set forth in the CPL for Demands, Motions, Responding Papers, etc.
Source page 1Adjournments
Requests for adjournments must be made in writing, on notice to opposing counsel, and the Court no later than 72 hours prior to the scheduled appearance. If the Court grants the adjournment, it is incumbent on the attorney seeking the adjournment to obtain a date that is mutually agreeable to the parties and the Court. No adjournment will be granted until a new date is secured with the Court that is within 10 days of the original scheduled appearance. Do not assume an adjournment request has been granted until you receive confirmation from the Court. Adjournments will only be granted upon consent, except in cases of emergency.
Source page 1Conferences and appearances
Any attorney who will be late for a scheduled appearance must notify the Court Clerk at 845-2180 prior to the scheduled time of appearance.
Source page 1Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Erie County Court of Claims
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
Erie County Court of Claims
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
Erie County Court of Claims
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
Erie County Court of Claims
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 ↗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 ↗Court of Claims Courtroom Technology
Courtwide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Court of Claims Courtroom Technology ↗