Charles D. Wood at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2037
Charles D. Wood
Supreme Court Justice · Westchester County Supreme Court
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Biography
Professional career
- Assigned to Westchester County in 2012 and has held the role of the Supervising Judge of the Westchester County Matrimonial Part since 2013
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Westchester County, White Plains, NY, 2010-2023
- Judge, Child Victims Act District Judge, Westchester County, NY, 2019-2020
- Supervising Judge, Westchester County, Matrimonial Part, NY, 2013-2013
- Judge, Yonkers City Court, Yonkers, NY, 2006-2009
- Counsel, New York State Senate, Nicholas A. Spano, 35th District, NY, 1999-2005
- Began his legal career as a sole practitioner in Yonkers — 1995–1997, then served as an associate at Banks, Curran, Keefe & Spolzino
- He is licensed to practice law in both New York (1995) and Connecticut (1994)
Education
- B.A. from Vassar College in 1991 and a J.D. from New York Law School in 1994
Additional information
- In 2023, he sought the Democratic Party endorsement for re-election to the Supreme Court, marking his first run as a registered Democrat
- Elected to the Yonkers City Court in 2005 and later elected to the New York Supreme Court, 9th Judicial District, in November 2009, taking office in January 2010
- Practitioner, Solo Practice, Yonkers, NY, 2001-2005
- He returned to private practice — 2001–2005 before entering the judiciary
- legal counsel to Republican State Senator Nicholas A. Spano (1999–2005)
- Practitioner, Banks, Curran, Keefe & Spolzino, LLP, Mount Kisco, NY, 1997-1999
- Practitioner, Yonkers, NY, 1995-1997
- Judge Wood has issued rulings in numerous significant cases, including Smith v
- He actively participated in Republican politics, including serving on campaigns and as counsel to Senator Spano
- Wood has been registered as both a Republican and a Democrat
- He has presided over a wide range of cases, including civil trials, commercial disputes, land use, medical malpractice, personal injury, and matrimonial matters
- He has also been designated to conduct public corruption felony trials in Nassau County and civil trials in Suffolk County
- Wood has been involved with professional and community organizations such as the New York State City Court Judges Association, Yonkers Lawyers Association, Westchester County Bar Association, Dutchess County Bar Association, Society of Irish American Lawyers, and the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
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
Conferences and appearances
Questions regarding local procedures should be addressed to the Civil Calendar Office at (914) 824-5300.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
A. Communications with the Court’s Chambers staff listed above is restricted to IAS matters only. No communications regarding Medical, Dental, or Podiatric Malpractice matters shall be directed to the Court’s IAS Part Chambers.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Communications regarding such matters shall be directed to the MDPM Part staff in compliance with the MDPM Part Rules.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
B. Correspondence to the Court must be uploaded to NYSCEF and simultaneously copied to all counsel or self-represented litigants.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
C. Ex parte communications are strictly prohibited except upon consent of all counsel, or with respect to scheduling matters or the presentation of orders to show cause for signature.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
D. Counsel must inform their client(s) that under no circumstances shall any member of this court’s staff engage in any conversation or exchange any communication with a represented party.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
E. Self-represented parties must direct all communications through the Part Clerk and the Secretary.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
F. The court shall not be copied on correspondence between the parties.
Source page 1Discovery
a. If the parties agree on a discovery schedule, they may submit a preliminary conference stipulation at least 1 day before the scheduled conference.
Source page 2Discovery
d. If the parties do not agree on a discovery schedule, at least 1 day before the conference, the parties shall submit a preliminary conference stipulation containing their proposed discovery schedule and indicating that it is submitted without consent.
Source page 2Discovery
a. The parties may submit a compliance conference stipulation containing a schedule for the completion of outstanding discovery that complies with the designated discovery track and is signed by all counsel and self-represented litigants. Stipulations that do not adhere to the designated discovery track are subject to modification by the court.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
b. Stipulations should be submitted at least 1 day before the conference.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
1. For all virtual appearances, a Teams link will be emailed to all parties prior to the scheduled appearance. If a party does not receive a link for a scheduled virtual appearance, the party must request a link by e-mailing the Part Clerk on notice to all other parties, before the virtual appearance date.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
2. Teams links are sent only to the parties’ service e-mail addresses listed on their NYSCEF accounts.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
3. If a party experiences technical difficulties when accessing the Teams link and cannot connect to the call-in number, the party shall immediately e-mail the Part Clerk on notice to all other parties. The party shall include in the e-mail a phone number where that party can be contacted.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
4. Recording of virtual appearances is prohibited and subject to sanction.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
5. Only counsel and the parties may be present during a virtual appearance, unless other persons are expressly permitted by this Court.
Source page 3Adjournments
1. Conferences will only be adjourned upon a showing of good cause (22 NYCRR § 202.10). The party requesting the adjournment must upload the request to NYSCEF and copy all other parties. The request must indicate if all the request is being made on consent, and if not, the reasons consent is not given, along with 3 proposed dates.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
2. Unless the parties receive confirmation from the Court that a conference has been rescheduled, the parties must appear for the conference as originally scheduled.
Source page 3Adjournments
3. Discovery shall proceed during the period of any adjournment (22 NYCRR § 202.10). Any adjournment of a conference will not excuse the failure to provide discovery or adhere to preliminary conference or compliance conference orders.
Source page 3Trial exhibits and witnesses
3. Pursuant to the Trial Readiness Order, plaintiff shall file and serve the Note of Issue and Certificate of Readiness within 20 days.
Source page 3Trial exhibits and witnesses
4. Applications seeking to vacate a Note of Issue or otherwise challenge readiness for trial shall be made in accordance with 22 NYCRR § 202.21.
Source page 3Motion practice
2. All motions are submitted without appearances and without oral argument, unless the court orders otherwise.
Source page 3Motion practice
3. Sur-replies and other papers submitted after the return date of the motion will not be considered unless the court orders otherwise.
Source page 3Motion practice
4. In accordance with Part III(B) of the Westchester Supreme Court Civil Case Management Rules, dispositive motions made pursuant to CPLR 3211, 3212, or 3213 do not stay discovery except for motions made pursuant to CPLR 3211(g).
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
b. Any exhibit over 5 pages and not containing page numbers shall be bates stamped.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
c. References to exhibits shall indicate the page number on which the information cited is contained.
Source page 4Adjournments
a. Adjournment requests must be made to the Motion Support Clerk in accordance with Part III of the Westchester Supreme Court Civil Case Management Rules.
Source page 4Adjournments
b. Requests for adjournments shall not be addressed to this part.
Source page 4Motion practice
1. An order to show cause submitted to this court must be uploaded to NYSCEF, or in non-e-filed cases, presented to the office of the calendar clerk, after the payment of any required fees at the County Clerk’s Office.
Source page 4Conferences and appearances
2. A conference on the request for a Temporary Restraining Order, if required, will be conducted at a date and time set by the court.
Source page 4Motion practice
4. No appearances are required, and no oral argument will be heard unless the court directs in the order to show cause.
Source page 4Motion practice
3. A preliminary conference may constitute the pre-motion conference; however, no motion shall be made before a preliminary conference order has been issued.
Source page 4Motion practice
5. Nothing in these rules shall be construed to prevent or limit counsel from making any motion deemed appropriate to best represent a party’s interests. The pre-motion conference shall be held to permit the court the opportunity to resolve issues before motion practice ensues.
Source page 5Motion practice
1. Post-note summary judgment motions shall comply with the deadlines set forth in the Trial Readiness Order.
Source page 5Motion practice
1. Shall be made by Order to Show Cause and be accompanied by a proposed order granting the requested relief (22 NYCRR § 202.8-a[b]).
Source page 5Adjournments
A. When an action is settled, discontinued, or otherwise disposed of, counsel or self- represented parties must promptly file a stipulation of discontinuance before the case is marked settled and disposed (22 NYCRR § 202.28). If the stipulation of discontinuance is not filed, the parties must appear at any scheduled conference or alert the court that the stipulation of discontinuance was filed.
Source page 5Adjournments
B. If the parties reach a settlement agreement on the record and require time to effectuate the filing of a stipulation of discontinuance or to address settlement-related issues such as liens, the matter may be set down for an appearance in this part to ensure that discontinuance is effectuated in accordance with CPLR 2104, 3217, and 8020(c).
Source page 5Adjournments
C. The pendency of settlement negotiations will not delay, adjourn, or in any way affect the scheduling of discovery proceedings or trials.
Source page 5Conferences and appearances
1. Immediately prior to the commencement of a hearing or trial, this court will conduct a conference with all counsel and self-represented litigants to discuss preliminary matters and procedural issues. Counsel or self-represented
Source page 5Motion practice
d. alert the court to any anticipated motions in limine or evidentiary objections which will be made during the hearing or trial and must provide this court with a copy of all prior decisions and orders which may be relevant to such application;
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
1. Counsel shall jointly prepare a verdict sheet. The verdict sheet is to be in final form for presentation to the jury. If agreement cannot be reached, then each side shall present a proposed verdict sheet in Microsoft Word format
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
1. If any part of a transcript of an examination before trial will be read as evidence-in-chief, the proponent of the transcript must provide a complete copy of it to the court and all other counsel or self-represented parties, prior to its reading.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
1. Counsel shall exit the courthouse with their trial exhibits after trial. If exhibits are not picked up, they will be considered abandoned and will be destroyed after ten days.
Source page 6Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Westchester 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
Westchester 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
Westchester 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
Westchester 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 ↗