Caroline Wojtaszek at a glance
- Current role
- County Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2030
Caroline Wojtaszek
County Court Judge · Niagara County County Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judicial Offices Acting Justice New York State Supreme Court Designated by Chief Administrative Judge 2023 to present
- Caroline A. Wojtaszek is a sitting judge in the Niagara County Surrogate’s Court and County Court of Niagara County in New York, serving a term from 2021 to 2030
- Official role: Judge in Niagara County Surrogate’s Court and County Court, serving 2021–2030
- Niagara County District Attorney's Office, District Attorney, Elected, 2017 to 2021
- NYS Unified Court System, County Court, Niagara County, Confidential Law Clerk, 2010 to 2017
- Niagara County District Attorney's Office, Assistant District Attorney, 1998 to 2010
Education
- J.D. — State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Law — 1997
- B.S. — State University of New York College at Brockport — 1994
Additional information
- County and Surrogate's), Elected, 2021 to Present
- Chamber Rules: Her official chamber rules outline procedures for filings, adjournment requests, and communications, emphasizing that the judge is not copied on routine correspondence
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 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 (19 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
Do not include the Judge on any e-mail correspondence at any time.
Source page 1Adjournments
All requests for adjournments must be made in writing or sent via email. Direct all adjournment requests to Jennifer Tyson with copies to Holly Sloma, Esq. and Dona Heschke. Do not copy the Judge on any e-mail request for adjournment.
Source page 1Adjournments
Unless the request for adjournment is granted by the Court, the parties and counsel are directed to appear as originally scheduled barring extraordinary circumstances. Stated more directly, even if both counsel consent to an
Source page 1Adjournments
adjournment, the Court must grant the request before the appearance is removed from the calendar.
Source page 2Adjournments
All requests for adjournments must be made in writing or sent via email. Direct all adjournment requests to Jessica Brown (jbrown@nycourts.gov) with copies to Holly Sloma, Esq. and Jessica Mussell, Esq. (jmussell@nycourts.gov). Do not copy the Judge on any e-mail request for adjournment. Prior to submitting the request to the Court, the requesting attorney must (1) contact opposing counsel regarding the request and his/her position on the request; (2) obtain three alternate dates and times that both counsel are available regardless if opposing counsel objects to the request; and (3) provide the opposing counsel’s position on the request and availability of both counsel in the written request to the Court.
Source page 2Adjournments
Unless the request for adjournment is granted by the Court, the parties and counsel are directed to appear as originally scheduled barring extraordinary circumstances. Stated more directly, even if both counsel consent to an adjournment, the Court must grant the request before the appearance is removed from the calendar.
Source page 2Adjournments
Any request for the adjournment of a sentencing must be made three business days in advance of the sentencing date and must be made in writing or via e-mail. Requests are to be directed to Jennifer Tyson with copies to Holly Sloma, Esq.
Source page 2Adjournments
and Dona Heschke. Do not copy the Judge on any e-mail request for a sentencing adjournment. Counsel should be prepared to submit any documentary proof supporting the need for such adjournment with the written request. The requesting attorney must supply the Court with three alternate dates and times that both counsel and the defendant are available for sentencing. Any request for adjournment of sentencing less than three business days in advance will be viewed with disfavor and should be accompanied with documentation supporting the need for the request, i.e., quarantine orders, doctor’s orders, etc.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
All requests for extensions of time must be made in writing or sent via email. Direct all requests for extensions of time to Jennifer Tyson with copies to Holly Sloma, Esq. and Dona Heschke. Do not copy the Judge on any e-mail request for an extension. Contact opposing counsel prior to submitting an extension request and indicate whether opposing counsel consents or object to such extension. If the request for extension requires the rescheduling of an appearance date before the Court, requesting counsel must supply three alternate dates and times that both counsel are available regardless if opposing counsel objects to the request for extension.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
A working copy of any and all motions, answering papers, reply affidavits, memoranda and correspondence to the Court is required to be submitted to the Court’s chambers, with the appropriate E-File confirmation notice form attached.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
All other submissions intended to be reviewed by the Court which are e-filed without a working copy set to chambers will not be considered.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
Must be filed with the Court Clerk, Jennifer Tyson. Motions may be submitted via email to Jennifer Tyson and Dona Heschke with a copy to Holly Sloma, Esq., but parties must also submit a hard copy to chambers. If a party decides not to file a motion or to respond, the party must inform chambers before or on the date that the filing is due.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
Must be filed with the Court Clerk, Jennifer Tyson. Responses may be submitted via email to Jennifer Tyson and Dona Heschke with a copy to Holly Sloma, Esq., but parties must also submit a hard copy to chambers. If a party decides not to file a motion or to respond, the party must inform chambers before or on the date that the filing is due.
Source page 3Adjournments
All motion papers, including cross-motions, answering affidavits, and reply affidavits must be submitted to the Court within the time periods prescribed herein and the CPLR, unless the Court directs otherwise. Failure to comply with the filing deadline will result either in an adjournment of the motion or refusal by the Court to consider the untimely submission.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
Advance notice of plea agreements is greatly appreciated by the Court and ensures that the Court runs on time and efficiently. E-mail the plea agreement to Jennifer Tyson with copies to Holly Sloma, Esq., and Dona Heschke. Do not copy the Judge on any e-mail notice of a plea agreement.
Source page 4Adjournments
4. Jury Trials Adjournments may only be granted by the Judge.
Source page 4Motion practice
List of witnesses, requests to charge and papers on motions in limine are required prior to jury selection.
Source page 4Conferences and appearances
Jury selection begins at 10:00 am on Monday with proof to begin the following day unless by agreement of the parties or direction by the Court of an alternate schedule. Charge conference with the Judge shall take place after proof is completed but before closing statements, with results put on the record.
Source page 4Communications with chambers
PLEASE NOTE: Page 1 must be completed in its entirety and filed with the Court Clerk and Chambers at least one (1) day before the plea along with a copy of the proposed SCI paperwork including charges. Page 2 should also be supplied to chambers one (1) day prior to the plea.
Source page 5Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Niagara County County 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
Niagara County County 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
Niagara County County 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
Niagara County County 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 ↗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 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 ↗