--- title: "Debra A. James | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-a-james-ny-trial-af238522" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Debra A. James Supreme Court, New York County, Civil Term · Justice ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court, New York County, Civil Term - State: New York - Role: Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - 2014–present: Justice, New York County Supreme Court - Justice, New York Supreme Court, New York County, New York, NY, 2014-2027 - Justice, Supreme Court, New York County, Civil Term, Elected, 2014 to 2026 - Justice of the New York County Supreme Court (First Judicial District), elected in 2014, with a career spanning over four decades in public service and the judiciary - 2002–2014: Acting Justice of the Supreme Court (appointed by former Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman) - 1995–2014: Judge, New York City Civil Court (elected in 1995, re-elected in 2005) - Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 2005-2013 - Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, New York County, New York, NY, 2002-2013 - Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, NY, 1995-2004 - During her 18-year Civil Court tenure, she held the role of Acting Supreme Court Justice for 11 of those years ### Education - Cornell University — J.D. (1978) - American Government and Political Science — Cornell University — 1975 ### Additional information - Practitioner, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp., NY, 1986-1994 - Corp.,, NY, 1985-1986 - Practitioner, NYS Mortgage Loan, NY, 1983-1985 - Practitioner, City of New York, Law Department, New York, NY, 1979-1983 - Born February 16, 1953 in Knoxville, Tennessee, she moved with her family to Queens, NY, as a child. - Date of birth: 1953-02-16 - Practitioner, State of N.Y. Mortgage Agency Loan Enforcement and Adm. - Current court assignment: Supreme Court, New York County, Civil Term - Began her legal career in the NYC Law Department and later in state mortgage loan enforcement roles. - She is a registered Democrat, a lifelong reader, and enjoys jazz, big band, and Latin-inspired music - She has been active in the National Association of Women Judges and the New York City Bar Association, serving on committees such as the Fairness and Access Committee, Women in Prison Committee, and the Minorities in the Courts Committee - Birth place: Knoxville, TN ## 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 ### 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=TpBGRmN82gOvVSiujKWCgg%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=TpBGRmN82gOvVSiujKWCgg%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=TpBGRmN82gOvVSiujKWCgg%3D%3D) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14815/debra-a-james/) - [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) - [New York State Unified Court System judicial profile or roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=TpBGRmN82gOvVSiujKWCgg%3D%3D) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14815/debra-a-james/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-a-james-ny-trial-af238522", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-a-james-ny-trial-af238522", "name": "Debra A. 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James", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-a-james-ny-trial-af238522" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-5e0f997e8c334d15fbc4) — State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction). Collected 2026-10-27. - [22 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-bf1c7eb9020e52eed65d) — Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court). Collected 2026-10-27. - [New York County Supreme Court, Civil Branch — Rules of the Justices](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-d3c269bb7fe692b08197) — Civil Branch proceedings in New York County Supreme Court only; not criminal proceedings. Preserve source version and check later judge/part instructions. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/courts/1jd/supctmanh/Uniform_Rules.pdf). 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.