--- title: "Catherine E. Leahy Scott | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/catherine-e-leahy-scott" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Catherine E. Leahy Scott Albany County Court of Claims · Court of Claims Judge ## Profile - Court: Albany County Court of Claims - State: New York - Role: Court of Claims Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, New York State Court of Claims, Appointed by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, 2019 to Present - Catherine E. Leahy‐Scott is a judge of the New York State Court of Claims, presiding over civil cases in Albany County, appointed by Governor Cuomo in 2019 for a term through 2028 - New York State Department of Law, Office of the Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, 2008 to 2010 - Columbia County District Attorney's Office, First Assistant District Attorney, 1995 to 2003 - Columbia County District Attorney's Office, Assistant District Attorney, 1990 to 1994 - Columbia County Public Defender's Office, Assistant Public Defender, 1988 to 1990 ### Education - Hofstra University School of Law — J.D. (1988) - Hofstra University — B.A. (1982) ### Additional information - Workers' Compensation Fraud Inspector General, 2015 to 2019 - New York State Inspector General, 2013 to 2019 - New York State Acting Welfare Inspector General, 2012 to 2019 - Well known for leading the investigation into the 2015 escape of convicts David Sweat and Richard Matt from Clinton Correctional Facility, producing a detailed report that informed public policy and media coverage - Acting New York State Inspector General, 2012 to 2013 - First Deputy Inspector General, 2011 to 2012 - Law Offices of Catherine Leahy-Scott, 1988 to 1995, 2003 to 2007 ## 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 ### courtroom technology Scope: courtwide The New York Court of Claims publishes courtroom evidence-presentation technology, including document/photo/object/video presentation and laptop connections in specified courtrooms. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/court-claims/courtroom-technology) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### 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 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=IIVEZML5UnmOJAll7tN3Bw%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=IIVEZML5UnmOJAll7tN3Bw%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=IIVEZML5UnmOJAll7tN3Bw%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) - [Court of Claims Courtroom Technology](https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/court-claims/courtroom-technology) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. Catherine E. Leahy-Scott](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=IIVEZML5UnmOJAll7tN3Bw%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/catherine-e-leahy-scott", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/catherine-e-leahy-scott", "name": "Catherine E. Leahy Scott | KnowJudges", "description": "Catherine E. Leahy Scott, Albany County Court of Claims. 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/catherine-e-leahy-scott#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/catherine-e-leahy-scott#judge", "name": "Catherine E. 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Leahy Scott", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/catherine-e-leahy-scott" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 206 — Uniform Rules Court Claims](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-319c3a2b568bb82e1cf6) — Court of Claims actions and proceedings [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-206-uniform-rules-court-claims). 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.