--- title: "Donald Haight | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-haight-madison-town-court-30353719" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-27" --- # Donald Haight Madison Town Court · Town and Village Justice ## Profile - Court: Madison Town Court - State: New York - Role: Town and Village Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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 ### justice court civil procedure Scope: statewide New York Part 214 applies statewide to civil actions and proceedings in Town, Village, and City Justice Courts outside New York City; each court establishes and posts its regular sessions, subject to modification by the Chief Administrator. Evidence excerpt: This Part shall be applicable to all actions and proceedings in the Town, Village and City Justice Courts of the State of New York, outside the City of New York. [Part 214: Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-214-uniform-civil-rules-justice-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-27 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/384/Court-Assignments) - [Official roster](https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/384/Court-Assignments) - [Madison County, New York official Justice Court Assignments official judicial roster](https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/384/Court-Assignments) - [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) - [Part 214: Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-214-uniform-civil-rules-justice-courts) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-haight-madison-town-court-30353719", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-haight-madison-town-court-30353719", "name": "Donald Haight | KnowJudges", "description": "Donald Haight, Madison Town Court. 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Haight is the Town Justice for the Town of Hamilton, New York, and also serves as Acting Justice for the Village of Hamilton’s court system - For agendas, minutes, and other official documents, visit the Town of Hamilton’s Town Justice page Hamilton, NY - The Village of Hamilton’s court also lists him as Acting Justice when the elected Village Justice is unavailable - He works alongside the Justice Clerk and other municipal staff to ensure fair and efficient resolution of cases ### Education ### Additional information - Before retiring to Hamilton in 2012, he served on numerous grand juries in Otsego County and was active in community organizations. - As Town Justice, Donald Haight presides over weekly court sessions and handles all judicial business for the Town of Hamilton, including matters such as small claims, code enforcement, and other local legal issues. - Donald Haight was born and raised in Goshen, NY, and attended SUNY Oneonta. - He spent 33 years teaching high school history in the Unadilla Valley Central School system and coached football and wrestling for 35 years. - He also held the role of President of the Faculty Association for 25 years, gaining extensive experience in negotiations and school governance - Haight is a long‐time member of the Elks Club and the Methodist Church, and he volunteers annually at the Peterboro Civil War weekend. - He is committed to giving back to his community and is open to additional training required by New York State for justices ## 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 214 — Uniform Civil Rules Justice Courts](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-03a70ba9a5052a74b18b) — Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-214-uniform-civil-rules-justice-courts). 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.