Dennis E. Ward at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2027
Dennis E. Ward
Supreme Court Justice · Niagara County Supreme Court
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Biography
Professional career
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Erie County, Buffalo, NY, 2015-2028
- Commissioner, Erie County Democratic Election, NY, 2004-2014
- Pre-judicial career: Over 37 years in private legal practice and 10 years as Erie County Democratic Elections Commissioner
Education
- JD — University at Buffalo — 1976
- BA — University at Buffalo — 1973
Additional information
- As of 2026, Judge Ward presides in the Supreme Court of Niagara County (Part 12, 2nd Floor, Buffalo, NY).
- Registered as a Democrat
- Judge on the New York Supreme Court, serving in the 8th Judicial District, which covers multiple counties including Erie, Niagara, and Cattaraugus
- Birth place: Salamanca, NY
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 (9 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Adjournments
Motions may be made returnable on any Wednesday or by appointment through the court clerk. Argued motions will be assigned a return day and time by the court clerk. All motions scheduled at 9:30 a.m. are decided on papers only; no appearances permitted. Adjournment requests should be arranged through stipulation, and counsel are asked to observe the Rules of Civility regarding reasonable requests for adjournment. Default applications shall include an affidavit of service showing that a mailed copy of the papers, with the return date, was served on the defendant, together with the Court Notice, which advises the defaulting party how to appear virtually. All motions and report back conferences are virtual unless otherwise arranged.
Source page 1Motion practice
Motions to resolve discovery disputes shall be accompanied by an affidavit of good faith attempt at resolution; parties are encouraged to discuss discovery issues during conferences in order to minimize motion practice. Orders and other papers for signature (except orders to show cause) must be circulated to opposing counsel on five business days’ notice. Requests for temporary injunctive relief will generally not be granted in the absence of prior notice to the opposing party, as required by 22 NYCRR §202.7(f).
Source page 1Adjournments
Trial dates are firm, and adjournments are granted only in exceptional circumstances. A final, in-person, settlement conference will be set for a date at least 60 days before trial.
Source page 1Motion practice
Expert disclosure pursuant to CPLR 3101 is required 30 days before trial. Summary judgment motions are to be filed within 30 days of the note of issue date set forth in the Trial Letter unless another date is specified. All discovery must be completed by the date set by the court for filing of the note of issue. Any discovery not completed by the discovery cutoff date set forth in the Trial Letter is deemed waived, whether or not the note of issue is filed.
Source page 1Motion practice
Motions in limine must be filed on 8 days notice, and must be scheduled for argument on the Wednesday of the week prior to the week of jury selection. Requests to charge and proposed verdict sheets are required before jury selection starts. A charge conference will be conducted prior to summations.
Source page 2Filing and working copies
Exhibits for trial should be marked by the court reporter prior to openings. Counsel shall, if practical, supply a courtesy copy of each exhibit to opposing counsel and the court. For lengthy exhibits, only the relevant pages need be copied. The parties will be asked to stipulate as many exhibits as possible into evidence prior to the start of trial in order to promote the flow of testimony.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
Parties must serve pleadings (complaint and answer) and 236B affidavits prior to the first conference. Parties must produce at the first conference the following items: the prior year’s income tax statement; current pay stub; a copy of each party’s lifetime Social Security earnings statement; an executed retainer agreement; and a completed copy of the court’s Preliminary Matrimonial Information Sheet (available through the Chambers). If custody and access are at issue, the Court will designate an Attorney for Children (AFC), and the parties will be asked to work out a Parenting Plan, to be drafted by the AFC. The parties will also be encouraged to enter into a Property Settlement Agreement (either full or partial) regarding finances.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
If any issues remain unresolved, the court will set a trial date, to be preceded by a final settlement conference. Counsel for the plaintiff must circulate a proposed settlement agreement and e-mail it to Chambers at least one week prior to the settlement conference, so that any negotiated modifications can be inserted and the document printed and signed. Parties must be present for the settlement conference. If the case does not settle, a Statement of Proposed Disposition, pursuant to 22 NYCRR 202.16(h), is required one week prior to trial. At the close of proof, both counsel shall provide a post-trial submission summarizing the issues to be judicially determined and their client’s position on those issues.
Source page 2Adjournments
After the RJI has been filed, the court will schedule the case for a preliminary conference (if no motion has been filed), and thereafter keep the case on a 60-day diary. Conferences may be adjourned if a motion has been filed. There should be a separate motion for the Order of Reference. The first motion should include proof of compliance with the 90-day pre-foreclosure notice, where required by RPAPL §1304. Where the premises are occupied, notice of any motions should be mailed to the defendant(s), regardless of whether they are in default in answering the complaint. Requests for costs and/or attorney fees must be accompanied by a bill of costs and an affidavit indicating the basis for the award requested.
Source page 2Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Niagara 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
Niagara 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
Niagara 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
Niagara 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 ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗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 ↗