Donald W. Haight at a glance
- Current role
- Town and Village Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Donald W. Haight
Town and Village Justice · Madison County: Hamilton Town Court
Judicial assignments
- Hamilton Town CourtTown JusticeSource checked October 7, 2026. Roster source
These published assignments do not certify a complete bench.
Biography
Professional career
- His daughters, both lawyers, encouraged him to run for Town Justice in 2007, and he has since emphasized fairness, impartiality, and community service
- Long‐time Democrat but stresses the non‐partisan nature of the justice role
- For agendas, minutes, and other judicial records, visit the Town of Hamilton’s Town Justice page Hamilton, NY
Education
Additional information
- Before retiring to Hamilton in 2012, he lived in Oneonta and served on numerous grand juries in Otsego County.
- The Town Justice for the Town of Hamilton, New York, presiding over weekly court sessions and handling all judicial business for the municipality
- Active in the Elks Club, the Methodist Church, and volunteers at the Peterboro Civil War weekend
- Donald Haight serves as Town Justice, a non‐partisan judicial officer responsible for conducting court matters, enforcing town laws, and ensuring fair resolution of disputes.
- 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 (New Berlin) 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 board relations
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 ↗
Justice Court Civil Procedure
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Hamilton Town Court
State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-2722 NYCRR Part 214 — Uniform Civil Rules Justice Courts
Hamilton Town 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
Hamilton Town 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
Hamilton Town 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 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 27, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System 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 ↗Part 214: Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View Part 214: Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts ↗Service record and verification
- Hamilton Town Court · Town and Village Justice · Current · present
- Hamilton Town Court · Town Justice · Current · present