Dale Edwin Ho at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Dale Edwin Ho
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile.
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Judge · Active · August 18, 2023–present · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Appointment method
- Presidential appointment with Senate confirmation
- Appointing authority
- Joseph R. Biden
- Source authority
- Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory
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Biography
Professional career
- American judge serving on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2023
- Adjunct assistant clinical professor, New York University School of Law, 2014-2023
- Adjunct professor, Brooklyn Law School, 2013-2017
- Adjunct Professor: Brooklyn Law School (election law, 2013–) and New York University School of Law (racial justice clinic, 2014–)
- Assistant counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, New York City, 2009-2013
- Private practice and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Fellow, New York City, 2007-2008
- Law clerk, Hon. Robert S. Smith, New York State Court of Appeals, 2006-2007
- Law clerk, Hon. Barbara S. Jones, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 2005-2006
Education
- Yale Law School — J.D. (2005)
- Princeton University — B.A. (1999)
Additional information
- Director, Voting Rights Project, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, New York City, 2013-2023
- Date of birth: 1977
- Birth place: San Jose
Dale Edwin Ho Procedures & Courtroom Rules
Presentation Procedure
Judge Specific
Demonstratives allowed with advance disclosure
Demonstrative aids should be furnished to opposing counsel in advance; disputes should be raised before use. Electronic exhibits are encouraged.Individual Practices for Hearings and Trials ↗
Judge Specific
Demonstratives allowed with advance disclosure
The official court profile lists Courtroom 905 and the current individual-practice documents applicable before Judge Ho.Official judge profile ↗
Courtroom Wifi
Judge Specific
Attorneys may obtain authorization to use Wi-Fi in Judge Ho's courtroom for hearings and trials.
Attorneys may obtain authorization to use the Court's Wi-Fi system in Judge Ho's Courtroom during a hearing or trial.Judge Ho's Individual Rules and Practices in Civil Cases ↗
Remote appearances
Courtwide
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (34 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Trial exhibits and witnesses
Unless otherwise ordered, these Individual Practices apply to hearings and trials in both civil and criminal cases before Judge Ho.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
2. Wi-Fi Access. Attorneys may obtain authorization to use the Court’s Wi-Fi system in Judge Ho’s Courtroom during a hearing or trial by submitting an Electronic Device and Wi-Fi Access Request Form, available on the Court’s website. The completed form should be submitted as early as possible—and certainly no later than five (5) business days before the start of the trial or hearing. If approved and signed by Judge Ho, a copy of the Order will be sent to the requesting attorney, who will receive a network name, username, password, and instructions from the District Executive’s Office on or before the first day of the scheduled proceeding. Wi-Fi access is limited to the approved attorney (who may not share his or her username or password with others) for the duration of the proceeding and for Courtroom 905 (unless Judge Ho or another judicial officer grants permission for it to be used in another courtroom). If an attorney wishes to test the Wi-Fi prior to the proceeding, that request must also be made to Chambers at least five (5) business days prior to the proceeding.
Source page 1Trial exhibits and witnesses
3. Audio-Visual Needs. If a party wishes to use audio-visual equipment at a hearing or trial, it is that party’s responsibility to ensure that any required approvals are obtained and that the necessary equipment is set up and working properly in advance of trial.
Source page 1Trial exhibits and witnesses
A list of the technology already set up in Judge Ho’s courtroom can be found in Attachment B. The party should contact the Courtroom Deputy, Nicole Morales, at (212) 805-6110 sufficiently in advance of trial to make the necessary arrangements for a technology walk-through and to test the equipment. To the extent that authorization is required to use electronic devices, a party must submit an Electronic Device and Wi-Fi Access Request Form, which is available on the Court’s website.
Source page 1Trial exhibits and witnesses
The completed Form should be submitted as early as possible — and certainly no later than five (5) business days before the start of the trial or hearing.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
5. Time Limits. In most civil cases, the Court will impose time limits on both sides at the final prehearing or pretrial conference. The parties’ opening statements (in civil jury trials) and examinations of witnesses will count against their time; lengthy colloquies before the jury will be split down the middle. The time limits do not apply to jury selection or to summations; the Court may impose separate time limits for summations. The parties should be prepared to address the issue of time limits at the final prehearing or pretrial conference.
Source page 2Trial exhibits and witnesses
6. Hearing and Trial Practices. Counsel shall abide by the following rules and
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
A. Sidebars during jury trials are strongly disfavored. Counsel are expected to anticipate any issues that might require argument and to raise those issues with the Court in advance of the time that the jury will be hearing the evidence, ideally in advance of the final pretrial conference.
Source page 2Trial exhibits and witnesses
B. If counsel intends to use demonstrative aids (e.g., PowerPoint presentations) during their opening statement or during the examination of any witness, the aids should be furnished to opposing counsel in advance of their use and the parties should raise any disputes with the Court in advance.
Source page 2Trial exhibits and witnesses
C. Counsel shall ensure that each witness is present and ready to take the stand when that witness’s turn to testify arrives. If a witness finishes his or her testimony, and the side calling that witness does not have another witness present and ready to testify, that side will be deemed to have rested, and the Court will proceed to the next phase of the hearing or trial.
Source page 2Trial exhibits and witnesses
D. If both sides intend to call a particular witness, the parties shall ensure that the witness does not need to be called twice. Where a defense witness is called by the plaintiff (or a rebuttal witness is called by a defendant), the Court will allow counsel to go beyond the scope of the direct examination on cross-examination to avoid the need for the witness to be recalled.
Source page 2Discovery
E. If counsel plan to use a deposition at a hearing or trial, for impeachment or any other purpose, a copy of the deposition should be provided to the Court in advance of the hearing or trial session during which the deposition is to be used.
Source page 2Trial exhibits and witnesses
F. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, at the time the Joint Pretrial Statement is filed, the parties shall also email to the Court and opposing counsel a Microsoft Excel document listing all exhibits sought to be admitted. The list shall contain
Source page 2Trial exhibits and witnesses
six columns labeled as follows: (1) “Exhibit Number”; (2) “Description” (of the exhibit); (3) “Authenticity Objection”; (4) “Admissibility Objection”; (5) “Date Identified”; and (6) “Date Admitted.” The parties shall complete the first four columns, but leave the fifth and sixth columns blank, to be filled in by the Court during trial. The parties should raise any objections to an exhibit, other than authenticity or foundation, before the opening of the session. If a party objects to an exhibit, the objection should be noted in the third and/or fourth columns by indicating the Federal Rule of Evidence that is the basis for the objection and any other authority. Any objections not made shall be deemed waived and any exhibits not objected to shall be deemed admissible at trial. In general, the Court will rule on the admissibility of exhibits in advance of trial to the extent possible.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
G. Exhibits must be pre-marked (that is, with exhibit stickers or the like) and should generally be labeled by party and exhibit number (e.g., “GX-1,” “PX-1,” “DX-1,” etc.) rather than letter (e.g., “DX-AA”). Parties are encouraged to use electronic copies of exhibits as much as possible. Regardless, electronic copies of any document sought to be admitted (with each filename corresponding to the relevant exhibit number—e.g., “PX-1,” “DX-1,” etc.) should be provided to the Court in advance of the proceeding. If submission of electronic copies would be an undue burden on a party, the party may seek leave of Court (by letter-motion filed on ECF) to submit prospective documentary exhibits in hard copy.
Source page 3Trial exhibits and witnesses
H. Where a hard copy exhibit is used, sufficient copies should be made, as appropriate, for witnesses, opposing counsel, jurors, the court reporter, any interpreters, and the Court. If counsel intends to publish hard copies of documentary exhibits to the jury rather than using the Court’s audio-visual system, a separate copy should be provided for each juror to avoid unnecessary delay.
Source page 3Trial exhibits and witnesses
I. Any exhibit offered in evidence should, at the time it is offered, be shown to opposing counsel unless it was provided, pre-marked, to counsel before the proceeding. At the end of the hearing or trial, counsel should make sure they have their exhibits. The Court is not responsible for them.
Source page 3Trial exhibits and witnesses
J. Counsel should request permission before approaching the bench or the witness box, and any document that counsel wishes to have the Court examine should be handed to the Courtroom Deputy.
Source page 3Trial exhibits and witnesses
K. If counsel intends to question a witness about a group of documents, he or she should avoid delay by having all the documents with him or her when commencing the examination. Where practicable, counsel should provide all the documents in the group to the witness (ideally in a binder) and conduct the examination from the podium to avoid the need to approach the witness separately for each document.
Source page 3Trial exhibits and witnesses
L. Counsel should not make speaking objections before the jury. In making objections before the jury, counsel should state “objection” only and provide the
Source page 3Motion practice
M. Counsel should not make motions (e.g., a motion for a mistrial) in the presence of the jury. Such matters may be raised at the next recess.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
N. Offers of, or requests for, a stipulation should be made privately, not within the hearing of the jury. In most instances, stipulations should be reduced to writing in a form that can be marked and admitted at trial.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
Preliminary instructions will facilitate better decision-making by jurors as well as a greater understanding of their duty in the decision-making process. Jurors’ ability to recall relevant evidence and apply the law to the facts will improve if they understand in advance the context in which they will be required to evaluate or analyze the evidence presented during the trial.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
B. Juror Note Taking. Jurors will be permitted but not required to take notes during the trial. Jurors will be instructed that the notes are to aid their memory of the evidence and are not to substitute for their recollection of the evidence in the case.1 The Court will provide each juror with a notebook or paper and pens. The notes will be collected and destroyed at the conclusion of the trial.
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
C. Juror Questions. In civil cases, jurors ordinarily will be permitted to submit written questions for witnesses. The Court will instruct the jury during the preliminary instructions and prior to the opening statements that they may submit clarifying questions in writing at the end of a witness’s testimony, that the rules of evidence govern the questioning and that they should draw no conclusions or inferences if a question is not asked or is modified. Upon receipt of a written question, the Court will make the question part of the Court record. Outside the hearing of the jury, the Court will disclose the question to the parties, and hear objections and proposed modifications. If the Court determines that the question is permissible, the Court will pose the question to the witness.
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
8. Conduct During a Hearing or Trial. Unless excused by the Court or incapable on account of disability, anyone at counsel table, including, as appropriate, any counsel
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
1 Sample jury instruction: “If you took notes during5 the course of the trial, you shall not show your notes to or discuss your notes with any other juror during your deliberations. Any notes you have taken are to be used solely to assist you. The fact that a particular juror has taken notes entitles that juror’s views to no greater weight than those of any other juror. Finally, your notes are not to substitute for your recollection of the evidence in the case. If you have any doubt as to any testimony, you may request that the testimony be read back to you as I mentioned earlier.”
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
F. All witnesses shall wear civilian clothes – no uniforms or badges.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
G. Only one attorney for each party shall examine, or cross-examine, each witness. The attorney stating objections, if any, during direct examination, shall be the attorney recognized for cross-examination. The attorney who conducts direct examination shall be the attorney who states any objections during cross- examination.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
I. In examining a witness, counsel shall not repeat or echo the answer given by the witness.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
J. Counsel should not face or otherwise appear to address him or herself to jurors when questioning a witness. In opening statements and in arguments to the jury, counsel shall not express personal knowledge or opinion concerning any matter in issue.
Source page 6Motion practice
9. Post-Hearing and Post-Trial Procedures. Counsel are responsible for raising promptly any issue concerning the accuracy of transcripts certified by the Court Reporter to be used for purposes of appeal. Counsel perceiving an error that is material shall stipulate to the appropriate correction or, if agreement cannot be reached, shall proceed by motion on notice. Non-material defects in syntax, grammar, spelling, or punctuation should be ignored.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
Once all challenges for cause have been heard and decided, the parties will then exercise their peremptory challenges (in the Courtroom) against the panelists who compose the potential members of the regular jury (in the ordinary criminal case, against the first 28 panelists) and, in criminal cases, the potential alternates (in a case where 2 alternates are to be selected, panelists 29 through 32). Peremptory challenges will be exercised simultaneously, with each party submitting a written list of the panelists it wishes to excuse. Any overlap among the lists of challenges will not result in parties receiving additional challenges. The jurors will be selected starting with the unchallenged juror with lowest number from the relevant pool (e.g., 1 through 28 for the regular jury and 29 through 32 for the alternates). For example, in an ordinary criminal case, if there was an overlap of 1 peremptory challenge with respect to the potential regular jurors (i.e., the first 28 panelists), the 15 challenged panelists would be excused and the first 12 of the remaining 13 would be seated as the jury. The 13th panelist, that is, the unchallenged panelist with the highest number, would also be excused.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
Technology Walkthrough. If a party wishes to use audio-visual equipment at a hearing or trial, it is that party’s responsibility to ensure that any required approvals are obtained, and that the necessary equipment is set up and working properly in advance of trial. The party should contact the Courtroom Deputy, Nicole Morales, at (212) 805-6110, sufficiently in advance of trial to make the necessary arrangements for a technology walkthrough and to test the equipment.
Source page 8Published judge / part rules (21 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Filing and working copies
b. Pro Se Law Clinic. There is a Pro Se Law Clinic in this District to assist non- incarcerated people who are parties in civil cases and do not have lawyers. The Clinic may be able to provide a non-incarcerated pro se litigant with advice in connection with his or her case. The Pro Se Law Clinic is run by a private organization called the City Bar Justice Center; it is not part of, or run by, the Court (and, among other things, therefore cannot accept filings on behalf of the Court, which must still be made by any unrepresented party through the Pro Se Office).
Source page 1Communications with chambers
a. No Communications to Chambers. All communications with the Court by a pro se party should be in writing and filed on ECF or sent to the Pro Se Office by email as a PDF, delivered in person, or physically mailed as described in Section 3(b) below. No documents or court filings may be sent directly to Chambers.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
Unless the Court orders otherwise, all communications with the Court will be docketed upon receipt; such docketing shall constitute service on any user of the ECF system. If any other party is not a user of the ECF system (e.g., if there is another pro se party in the case), a pro se party must send copies of any filing to that party and include an Affidavit of Service or other statement affirming that it has done so. Copies of correspondence between a pro se party and opposing parties shall not be sent to the Court. Any questions should be directed to the Pro Se Office at (212) 805-0175.
Source page 2Filing and working copies
b. Contact Information. Pro se parties are required to maintain their current mailing address on the docket at all times and must notify the Court of any change of address by filing a change of address form with the Pro Se Office.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
c. Communications by Parties Represented by Counsel. Except as otherwise provided below, communications with the Court by a represented party shall be governed by Judge Ho’s Individual Practices in Civil Cases, available at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/hon-dale-e-ho.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
d. Requests for Rescheduling a Conference or Extensions of Time. All requests to reschedule a conference or extend a deadline must be made in writing and must state: (1) the original date(s) of the conference or deadline; (2) the reasons for the requested extension; (3) whether the other party or parties consent and, if not, the reasons given for refusing to consent; and (4) the date of the next scheduled appearance before the Court as well as any other existing deadlines. Requests for extensions of deadlines regarding a matter that has been referred to a Magistrate Judge shall be addressed to that assigned Magistrate Judge.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
Absent an emergency, any request for an extension or to reschedule a conference must be made at least two business days prior to the deadline or scheduled appearance.
Source page 2Courtroom conduct and technology
a. Consent to Receive Electronic Service. To ensure timely service of documents, including Court Orders, non-incarcerated pro se parties are encouraged to consent to receive electronic service through the ECF System. To do so, a pro se party should review the instructions available at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/ default/files/2021-03/Consent_Pro-Se_Eservice-Instructions.pdf, and then submit a Consent to Electronic Service (available at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/ default/files/2021-03/Consent_Pro-Se_Eservice-form.pdf).
Source page 2Filing and working copies
iii. emailing them as an attachment in PDF format to Pro_Se_Filing@nysd.uscourts.gov, in which case the pro se party should follow the instructions contained in Appendix C of the Court’s ECF Rules & Instructions, available at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/electronic- case-filing; or
Source page 3Filing and working copies
c. Service on a Pro Se Party. Absent a pro se party consenting to receipt of electronic service, counsel in pro se cases must serve a pro se party with a paper copy of any document that is filed electronically and must file with the Court a separate Affidavit of Service. Submissions filed without proof of service that the pro se party was served will not be considered.
Source page 3Discovery
a. Discovery Requests Should Not be Sent to the Court. All requests for discovery by a pro se party should be sent to counsel for the party from whom discovery is sought.
Source page 3Motion practice
b. Discovery Disputes. If there are any discovery disputes, the parties are required to confer with one another to try to resolve the dispute without the need for Court intervention. If the parties are unable to resolve their dispute, either party may file a letter-motion, no longer than three pages and in accordance with Section 2 above, explaining the nature of the dispute and requesting an informal conference.
Source page 3Motion practice
a. Filing and Service. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, papers filed in opposition to a motion must be served and filed within 30 days of service of the motion papers, and reply papers, if any, must be served and filed within two weeks of receipt of opposition papers.
Source page 4Motion practice
b. Pro Se Notices. Parties who file a motion to dismiss, a motion for judgment on the pleadings, or a motion for summary judgment must provide the pro se party with a copy of the notices required under Local Civil Rules 12.1 or 56.2.
Source page 4Motion practice
c. Special Rule for Summary Judgment Motions. With respect to any deposition that is supplied in connection with a summary judgment motion, the index to the deposition should be included if it is available.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
d. No Courtesy Copies. Unless the Court orders otherwise, parties should not submit courtesy hard copies of any submissions in pro se cases.
Source page 4Communications with chambers
b. Incarcerated Parties. An incarcerated party may not be able to attend scheduled in-person conferences but may be able to participate by telephone. If an incarcerated party is unable to participate by telephone, a family member or a representative may attend or otherwise participate in the conference. In such instances, the incarcerated party may write to the Court in advance of the conference regarding any issue the pro se party wishes to have addressed at the conference. If a representative is designated, he or she should contact Chambers at (212) 805-0190 to determine the location of the conference. The Court will also have a transcript of the conference sent to the incarcerated party. If an incarcerated party does not have counsel and a representative cannot attend a conference, the pro se party should write to the Judge regarding any issue the pro se party wishes to have addressed at the conference.
Source page 4Motion practice
a. Pretrial Statement. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, within 30 days of the completion of all discovery or, if a summary judgment motion is filed, within 30 days of the Court’s ruling on summary judgment, the plaintiff in a pro se case shall file a concise, written Pretrial Statement. This Statement must contain the
Source page 5Filing and working copies
i. If the case is to be tried before only a judge without a jury, any parties represented by counsel must also file proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law at the time of filing the Pretrial Statement.
Source page 5Filing and working copies
ii. If the case is to be tried before a jury, any parties represented by counsel must also file proposed voir dire questions, a proposed jury charge, and a proposed verdict form at the time of filing the Pretrial Statement.
Source page 5Artificial intelligence
8. Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence. Any party who uses generative artificial intelligence (such as ChatGPT, Harvey, CoCounsel, or Google Gemini) to generate any portion of a motion, brief, pleading, or other filing must attach to the filing a separate declaration disclosing the use of artificial intelligence and certifying that the filer has reviewed the source material and verified that the artificially generated content is accurate.
Source page 5Shared court rules
SDNY and EDNY — Joint Local Civil and Criminal Rules
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Federal district-court proceedings only. Civil and criminal sections have distinct scope and district-specific exceptions. Not Bankruptcy Court rules.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 3, 2026.
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory · effective August 18, 2023 · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Federal Judicial Center biography ↗Individual Practices for Hearings and Trials
Judge Specific source · PDF · U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York · Source checked July 23, 2026
View Individual Practices for Hearings and Trials ↗Official judge profile
Judge Specific source · HTML · U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York · Source checked July 23, 2026
View Official judge profile ↗Judge Ho's Individual Rules and Practices in Civil Cases
Judge Specific source · PDF · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · effective February 25, 2025 · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Judge Ho's Individual Rules and Practices in Civil Cases ↗Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗