Deborah S. Kearns at a glance
- Current role
- Surrogate
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2034
Deborah S. Kearns
Surrogate · Albany County Surrogate's Court
Biography
Professional career
- The current Administrative Judge of the Albany County Surrogate’s Court in New York, serving a term from 2025 to 2034
- Judge Albany Surrogate's Court Elected January 2025 to Present
- Albany Law School of Union University Professor / Adjunct Professor 2008 to Present
- Albany County Surrogate's Court Chief Clerk 2015 to 2024
Education
- Tax New York University — LL.M. (2005)
- Albany Law School of Union University — J.D. (2000)
- Siena College — B.S. (1991)
Additional information
- West, a Thomson Reuters Business Commentator 2015 to Present
- She has been involved in court administration and legal services, and was active in the 2024 judicial election campaign for the Surrogate’s Court
- Private Practice Attorney 2000 to 2008
- Before becoming a judge, Kearns was a registered attorney with the New York State Unified Court System, employed by the Albany County Surrogate’s Court.
- Judge Kearns presides over probate cases in the Surrogate’s Court of Albany County, which handles matters such as wills, estates, guardianships, and adoptions.
- Prior role: held the role of Chief Clerk of the Albany County Surrogate’s Court before her judicial appointment
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 207 — Uniform Rules Surrogates Court
Albany County Surrogate's Court
Surrogate's Court proceedings
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Albany County Surrogate's 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
Albany County Surrogate's 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 ↗