Debra A. Martin at a glance
- Current role
- Acting Justice
- Current assignment
- Supreme Court, 7th Judicial Department
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Debra A. Martin
Acting Justice · Supreme Court, 7th Judicial Department
Biography
Professional career
- Acting Justice, Supreme Court, 7th Judicial Department, NY, 2016-present
- 2015–2025: Judge, New York State Court of Claims (Rochester branch)
- Judge, New York Court of Claims, NY, 2015-2020
- Retired judge of the New York State Court of Claims, appointed by former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in 2015
- att-gen-ass, NYS Office of the Attorney General, Rochester Regional Office, Rochester, NY, 2008-2015
- Partner, Martin & Iati, LLP, NY, 1989-2008
- 1989–2008: Partner, Martin & Iati, LLP (insurance defense matters)
- Managing Attorney, Staff Counsel Department, AETNA Causualty & Surety Company, 1981-1988
- 1978–1980: Associate Attorney, Downs, Rachlin & Martin
- Notable work: Led a restorative justice pilot program in the Seventh Judicial District, aiming to resolve civil lawsuits through cooperative, harm‐repair approaches
- She also held the role of an acting justice on the Monroe County Supreme Court
Education
- Catholic University of America — J.D. (1978)
- St Lawrence University — B.A. (1975)
Additional information
- Practitioner, Harris, Beach, Wilcox, Rubin & Levey, 1980-1981
- Practitioner, Downs, Rachlin & Martin, NY, 1978-1980
- In a high‐profile University of Rochester case, Martin explored restorative justice to resolve a multi‐year civil dispute, though the pilot was not fully successful.
- She has also volunteered as a tutor for Literacy Volunteers of Rochester
- She has held the role of president of the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the Pittsford Community Library.
- Martin has been active in the New York State Bar Association, New York State Women’s Bar Association, and Monroe County Bar 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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Supreme Court, 7th Judicial Department
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
Supreme Court, 7th Judicial Department
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
Supreme Court, 7th Judicial Department
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
Supreme Court, 7th Judicial Department
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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Supreme Court, 7th Judicial Department current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Supreme Court, 7th Judicial Department current judicial profile ↗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 ↗