Edward Pace at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2028
Edward Pace
Supreme Court Justice · Erie County Supreme Court
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Biography
Professional career
- Acting Justice, Supreme Court, Erie County, Designated by Administrative Judge Kevin M. Carter, 2024 to Present
- Acting Justice, Supreme Court, Erie County, Appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul, 2022 to Present
- Acting Justice, Supreme Court, Niagara County, Designated by Administrative Judge Kevin M. Carter, 2023 to 2024
- Town Justice, Town Court, Orchard Park, Elected, 2002 to 2022
- Edward A. Pace, Esq., The Pace Law Firm, PLLC, Private Practice, 1978 to 2022
Education
- Case Western Reserve Law School — J.D. (1977)
Additional information
- Town of Orchard Park, Deputy Town Supervisor, 1998 to 2000
- B.A. — SUNY at Buffalo — 1974
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 (33 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Adjournments
Parties requesting an adjournment must first seek consent of each counsel or pro se party. All requests for adjournment must be copied to all parties and to PATRICK BANNISTER, PETER ZALOCHA, and NEIL HART (and for all correspondence with chambers) before approval by the Court. The consent must be acknowledged in writing via email to the Court. Requests for adjournment of conferences must be directed to the court secretary. Requests for adjournment of motions must be directed to the court clerk.
Source page 1Artificial intelligence
Every attorney or party who uses an artificial intelligence (AI) tool in preparing any paper submitted to this court is expected to understand that tool’s capabilities and limitations. Attorneys and parties need to be aware that AI tools, among other risks and limitations, can generate fabricated information or fictitious citations to authority (commonly known as hallucinations). Under existing authority, by signing a paper and submitting it to this court, an attorney or party certifies that the paper does not contain any false material factual statement or any frivolous legal argument (see, e.g., 22 NYCRR 130- 1.1, 130-1.1a), and an attorney who submits any paper to this court is additionally bound by the Rules of Professional Conduct. Accordingly, any attorney or party who uses an artificial intelligence tool, as defined in 22 NYCRR 161.2(a), in preparing any paper, as defined in 22 NYCRR 161.2(b), filed in or submitted to this court or served on another party in a case before this court is required to carefully review the paper and independently ensure that it contains no fabricated or fictitious cases, statutes, or other material. By signing such paper, an attorney or party certifies that such a review has been conducted and that the paper contains no such fabricated or fictitious content. If this court determines that this requirement has not been satisfied, such attorney or party may be subject to sanction or other remedial action
Source page 1Discovery
Conferences are by MS Teams, unless otherwise directed by the Court. The Preliminary Conference will be scheduled within 45 days of the Court’s receipt of a filed RJI. A brief summary of the case shall be emailed to the Court’s secretary at least one week in advance of the first scheduled conference. Prior to court conference, the parties shall consult about (1) resolution of the case, in whole or part; (2) discovery; (3) alternative dispute resolution and (4) any voluntary and informal exchange of information that the parties agree would help to aid an early settlement. Counsel are to make a good faith effort to reach agreement on these matters in advance of the conference.
Source page 2Motion practice
A. Motions are heard every Thursday starting at 9:30 AM unless otherwise scheduled by the Court. Dispositive Motions are held in person unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Source page 2Motion practice
B. All motions and cross-motion papers must be filed and filing fees paid before scheduling of the hearing. Contact Court Clerk, Cornelius Hart, to schedule the motion hearing.
Source page 2Motion practice
D. At the time of the NYSCEF or paper filings of all Notices of Motion, Orders to Show Cause, Affirmations, Affidavits, and Memorandums of Law (but not exhibits) email Microsoft Word formatted copies to pzalocha@nycourts.gov. Do not send additional paper copies to the Court.
Source page 2Trial exhibits and witnesses
F. Video exhibits must be cut to pertinent length or, alternatively, cite the pertinent beginning and ending time markers on the video clip.
Source page 2Motion practice
G. Motions to resolve discovery disputes shall be accompanied by an affidavit of good faith attempt at resolution.
Source page 2Motion practice
H. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, oral argument is required unless all non- defaulting parties agree to submit on papers only.
Source page 2Filing and working copies
I. For non-e-filed cases, all moving papers must be filed with a working paper copy for the Judge no later than 10 days in advance of the return date.
Source page 2Motion practice
J. Temporary injunctive relief requests must comply with 22NYCRR 202.8(e) and will not be granted in the absence of prior notice to the opposing counsel and pro se parties, as required by 22 NYCRR § 202.7(f), unless the moving party can demonstrate significant prejudice. Live MS Teams or in-person testimony of the moving party may be required where an order to show cause requests temporary injunctive relief.
Source page 2Motion practice
L. Motions for Summary Judgment are to be made in accordance with 22 NYCRR part 202. CPLR 3212(a) requires that Motions for Summary Judgment must be made within 120 days of the filing of the note of issue unless the Court sets a different deadline.
Source page 3Motion practice
M. A motion to bifurcate the issues of liability and damages shall be made in compliance with CPLR 2214 and returnable and heard on a date to be determined by the Court.
Source page 3Motion practice
N. All Post-Trial Motions including those made pursuant to the CPLR and/or GOL, etc. require a simultaneous upload of the trial testimony transcript(s) of each relevant witness to the motion(s) and exhibit(s) and all post-trial motion(s) and responding papers must refer to the NYSCEF Document Number assigned to each transcript with page(s) and line(s) cited in all papers in support or in opposition to the motion(s) prior to the Court’s consideration of the motion(s).
Source page 3Discovery
1. Plaintiff shall provide Defendant with expert disclosure, in accordance with CPLR 3101(d)(1), at least sixty (60) days prior to jury selection, Defendants have fifteen (15) days to object to the sufficiency of the disclosure.
Source page 3Discovery
2. Defense counsel shall provide plaintiff with expert disclosure, in accordance with CPLR 3101(d)(1), at least forty-five (45) days prior to jury selection, Plaintiff has 15 days to object to the sufficiency of the disclosure.
Source page 3Motion practice
3. Motions in limine are to be made in compliance with CPLR 2214 and shall be made returnable no later than four weeks before jury selection, unless otherwise set by the Court.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
4. A final pre-trial conference date determined by the Court will be held in-person at the courthouse at 25 Delaware Avenue, Part 15, Buffalo, New York, 14202, with clients. All persons with settlement authority for each party are to appear in-person unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
5. The Court requires each party to submit Requests for Prior to and After Trial Jury Charges and Proposed Verdict Sheets to the Court no later than the day before the Final Pre-Trial Conference, which will be set by the trial judge. The proposed Jury Charges and Verdict Sheets are to be emailed in a Word Document Format to the judge, the law clerk, and copied to the secretary as follows: epace@nycourts.gov, pbannist@nycourts.gov, pzalocha@nycourts.gov
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
6. Trial counsel must appear at the final pre-trial conference and should be prepared to discuss the following: all theories of liability as well as the proof supporting those theories; all damage claims as well as the proof supporting those claims; all likely defenses to liability and damages; pursuant to NYCRR 202.37 - the identity of witnesses likely to be called at trial as well as the sum and substance of their anticipated testimony; the anticipated order of proof; all exhibits likely to be offered in a party’s case-in-chief.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
7. Pursuant to Uniform Rule 202.34, Counsel for parties shall confer prior to trial and shall attempt in good faith to agree upon the exhibits that will be offered into evidence without objection, especially as to the receipt of trial exhibits. An in-person marking conference will be held TBD if the parties are unable to agree upon trial exhibits. All stipulated exhibits must be made into a PDF, Bates stamped, if voluminous, and marked for identification (e.g., “Exh. 1”), and the notation “EVD”, and submitted to NYSCEF at least one week before the commencement of the trial, unless otherwise directed by the Court. lt is suggested that counsel contact the court clerk and court reporter to facilitate the timely filing of all exhibits. Counsel shall then prepare an exhibit list and email it to Peter Zalocha at pzalocha@nycourts.gov.
Source page 4Conferences and appearances
Preliminary conferences must be held within 45 days of the filing of an RJI as required by NYCRR 202.12(b). Attendance is mandatory for parties and counsel. The Preliminary Matrimonial Information Sheet, a retainer agreement, summons, affidavit of service, a Social Security earnings statement, must be provided to the Court and opposing counsel 10 days prior to the conference. The Court will address temporary support and the automatic stays at the conference. If possible, counsel should refrain
Source page 4Adjournments
Preliminary conferences adjournments – because of the limited time to hold a Preliminary Conference, adjournment requests will only be considered within 3 days of notice. Therefore, you must confirm your client’s availability immediately upon receipt of notice.
Source page 5Adjournments
The Adjournment Request Form must be used if the clients are not available.
Source page 5Motion practice
Motions seeking financial relief - must be accompanied by the movants DRL§236(B) affidavit.
Source page 5Conferences and appearances
Settlement conferences – Counsel must bring the most recent proposed agreement in paper and electronic form. It is expected that both parties will have reviewed the proposed agreement prior to the settlement conference, and all litigants and attorneys are required to attend Settlement Conferences In Person.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
Final judgment roll – once a fully executed agreement or written ratification has been received by the Court, counsel will have 30 days to submit the final judgment roll. The submission date is an in-person appearance with clients. In order to avoid the appearance, you must provide all necessary documents listed on the Judgment Roll Checklist, from both sides, to chambers 48 hours prior to the return date. Partial submissions will not excuse the appearance. If all of the necessary documents are submitted, you will receive an email dispensing with your appearance. The judgment roll will then be substantively reviewed.
Source page 5Filing and working copies
A copy of the agreement or the transcript – the Court does not retain copies in the file. A fully executed retainer agreement and Statement of Client’s Rights and Responsibilities. A current DRL§236(B) affidavit and itemized billing statements, including 60-day invoices. Counsel should review 22 NYCRR 1400.2, 1400.3, 1400.9, and 22
Source page 5Motion practice
(Q)DRO must be submitted on motion filed in NYSCEF or the ECCO and then
Source page 6Motion practice
Affidavit of diligent effort to locate the spouse & statement that terms requested in (Q)DRO do not expand on the rights set forth in the written agreement must be attached to the motion,
Source page 6Discovery
Plaintiff shall provide Defendant with expert disclosure, in accordance with CPLR 3101(d)(1), at least sixty (60) days prior to jury selection, Defendants have 15 days to object to the sufficiency of the disclosure.
Source page 7Discovery
Defense counsel shall provide Plaintiff with expert disclosure, in accordance with CPLR 3101(d)(1), at least forty-five (45) days prior to jury selection, Plaintiff has 15 days to object to the sufficiency of the disclosure.
Source page 7Communications with chambers
Before jury selection, all counsel and pro se parties are to confer and attempt to agree on the marking of all proposed documentary evidence. If necessary, the Court will hold an in- person “marking conference” 7 days prior to Jury Selection. Requests to charge (Pattern Jury Instructions [PJI] numbers only, unless modification of a charge is requested), witness lists, and proposed verdict sheets shall be submitted to chambers before jury selection. Motions in limine shall be filed, served, and heard by the Court before commencement of jury selection.
Source page 7Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Erie 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
Erie 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
Erie 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
Erie 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 ↗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 ↗