David J. Squirrell at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2036
David J. Squirrell
Supreme Court Justice · Westchester County Supreme Court
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Biography
Professional career
- Justice, Supreme Court, Orange County, Elected, 2023 to 2034
- He held the role of an Assistant District Attorney at the New York County District Attorney's Office from 1990 to 1994, gaining extensive prosecutorial experience.
Education
- Juris Doctor (JD) from St. John's University School of Law in 1990 and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University (1987), providing a strong academic foundation for his legal and judicial career
- Fordham University — B.A. (1987)
Additional information
- Putnam County Legal Aid Society, Inc, Chief Attorney, 2015 to 2022
- He also founded the Law Offices of David J. Squirrell, P.C., where he practiced law from 2018 onward
- He later worked in private practice, including as Of Counsel at Banks Curran and Schwam, LLP and as Chief Attorney and Executive Director at Putnam County Legal Aid Society, Inc..
- Judge Squirrell’s court emphasizes formal procedures, including the submission of documents through NYSCEF, strict rules against ex parte communications, and detailed protocols for preliminary, status, and compliance conferences.
- Extensive experience in both public service and private legal practice Judge Squirrell is recognized for his dedication to the legal profession, his adherence to procedural rigor, and his contributions to both the judiciary and the broader legal community in New York State
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 (24 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
Unless otherwise specifically requested, all submissions to the Court, including, but not limited to, correspondence to the court, proposed orders, proposed judgments and other documents pertaining thereto must be submitted through NYSCEF.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
A. Correspondence: All correspondence to the Court shall be via NYSCEF and copied to all parties and set forth the name and Index number of the case to which it pertains. Correspondence between attorneys and/or pro se litigants shall not be copied to the Court absent some specific purpose for the Court to be made aware of the same.
Source page 1Adjournments
B. Telephone Calls: Telephone calls shall be limited to situations requiring immediate attention which cannot be addressed by written correspondence. Requests for adjournments WILL NOT be entertained by telephone.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
C. Ex Parte Communications. Ex parte communications with the Court are strictly prohibited, except where an Order to Show Cause is submitted for signature, or upon consent of all parties during settlement negotiations.
Source page 1Conferences and appearances
Unless the parties are specifically notified otherwise, all of Justice Squirrell’s Supreme Court Conferences and Calendar calls are held at the Westchester County Supreme Court located
Source page 1Conferences and appearances
In the event the Court allows a conference to be conducted virtually, please be advised that any attorney or party attending said virtual court conference or virtual court proceeding shall conduct themselves and dress as if that court proceeding or court conference was being conducted live in the courtroom.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
D. Settlement Conferences: While the matter is pending before Judge Squirrell, the parties may request a settlement conference with the Court. All counsel must be present and prepared to engage in good faith settlement negotiations and vested with the full authority to negotiate and settle the matter with all parties and insurance carriers present or available by telephone. At least one week prior to any settlement conference, each party may email a settlement submission to the Court at 9jd- judgesquirrell@nycourts.gov This should briefly set forth the party’s position on any contested issue and should also contain any material that may be considered useful to the Court. This should not be uploaded to NYSCEF.
Source page 2Adjournments
E. Adjournments: Applications to adjourn conferences must be made in writing and submitted to the Court via NYSCEF, no later than forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the scheduled conference. The application must set forth (1) good cause for the adjournment; (2) whether the other parties to the action consent or object to the adjournment; and (3) shall suggest an approximate time period for the adjournment.
Source page 3Adjournments
A request for an adjournment, even if on consent of all parties, is NOT effective unless and until approved by the Court.
Source page 3Motion practice
A. Motion Calendar and Appearances: All motions/proceedings brought on by notice of motion or notice of petition shall be made returnable before the Court on any TUESDAY. Appearances are not required on motions unless directed by the Court, or unless oral argument is requested in writing and granted. All papers submitted in connection with motions shall bear page numbers.
Source page 3Adjournments
In accordance with the Westchester Supreme Court Civil Case Management Rules, requests to adjourn the return date of a motion must be made in writing to the Motion Support Clerk by e-mail to MotionSupportWestchester@nycourts.gov at least two (2) business days prior to the return date, on notice to all parties.
Source page 3Motion practice
Any party seeking to make a summary judgment motion prior to the issuance of the Trial Readiness Order, must seek leave of the Court to do so.
Source page 3Adjournments
Once the motion has been filed, any request to adjourn the return date must be submitted to the Motion Support Unit via written correspondence to MotionSupportWestchester@nycourts.gov
Source page 3Motion practice
C. Disclosure Motions: It is the policy of this Court to make itself and its staff available to resolve disputes related to pretrial disclosure and contents of a bill of particulars. Therefore, if a dispute over disclosure or a bill of particulars arises that cannot be resolved by the parties’ own diligent, good faith efforts, the aggrieved party shall notify the Court and a conference will be scheduled. A motion related to disclosure, or a bill of particulars is not to be made by any party, in any type of proceeding, unless authorized by the Court after conferencing fails.
Source page 3Motion practice
D. Electronic Media Exhibits: If any party submits any audio/visual exhibits in support of a motion, such submission must be submitted to the Court on a USB drive and filed in accordance with NYCRR 202.5-b(d)(7).
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
A. Bifurcation: For motor vehicle and most other personal injury cases, the issues of liability and damages will be bifurcated, and tried before the same jury, with a brief period of time between the end of the liability phase and the commencement of the damages phase to explore settlement options and to schedule necessary witnesses, etc. If there is a compelling reason for the issues to be tried together, counsel must raise that issue with the Court as soon as possible, and in no event later than the filing of the Note of Issue and the scheduling of a trial date.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
B. Witness and Exhibit Lists: At the commencement of trial, each party must provide a list of anticipated witnesses and anticipated exhibits.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
• The Witness List, which shall include the name of each witness the party anticipates calling on their direct case, as well as a brief offer of proof as to the anticipated testimony.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
• The Exhibit List shall list the exhibits by the pre-marked Exhibit number and indicate whether a stipulation has been made as to the admissibility of any trial exhibit.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
C. Jury Charges: In all jury trials, a complete list of requests to charge shall be submitted to the Court immediately upon commencement of trial, with copies to be provided to all other counsel and self-represented parties. If a requested charge is drawn from the current Pattern Jury Instructions (PJI), only the number of the same need be submitted.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
D. Verdict Sheet: The parties shall jointly prepare and submit a verdict sheet to the Court. If agreement cannot be reached as to the same, each party shall prepare and submit a proposed verdict sheet to the Court and other parties. A proposed verdict sheet must be in a final typewritten form sufficient to submit to the jury. The proposed verdict sheet shall also be submitted to 9jd-judgesquirrell@nycourts.gov in MS WORD format.
Source page 4Motion practice
E. Post-Trial Submissions: Motions brought by a party after jury trial pursuant to CPLR 4403 or CPLR 4404 must be supported by a copy of the trial transcript.
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
• Unless otherwise directed by the Court, in accordance with the schedule set by the Court at the conclusion of any bench-trial or hearing, the parties shall jointly submit a trial transcript, and each party shall prepare and submit a post- trial memorandum.
Source page 5Adjournments
Settled and Discontinued Cases: The parties shall immediately notify the Court of a settled or discontinued matter. Following the initial notification, counsel shall file a fully executed duplicate original stipulation of discontinuance with the County Clerk and the Part Clerk.
Source page 5Shared 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 ↗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 ↗