Eileen A. Rakower at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Current assignment
- Civil Court of the City of New York
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Eileen A. Rakower
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 1997-present
- Rakower held the role of an acting justice until her voluntary retirement in early 2022
- Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 2017-2022
- Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, New York, NY, 2006-2022
- 2006–2022: Acting Justice, New York County Supreme Court (appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman)
- 1997–2021: Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York (Manhattan 4th Municipal Court District)
- Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 2007-2016
- Initially elected to the Civil Court of the City of New York in 1997 and later appointed to the New York County Supreme Court in 2006 by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman
- Associate Law Assistant, New York Unified Court System, NY, 1987-1989
- Acting justice of the New York County Supreme Court (Civil Term) in New York’s First Judicial District
Education
- Yeshiva University — J.D. (1984)
- Cardoza School of Law in — J.D. (1984)
- B.A. — State University of New York at Binghamton in 1981
Additional information
- Law Assistant, New York Unified Court System, New York, NY, 1987-present
- Principal Law Assistant, New York Unified Court System, NY, 1989-1997
- Practitioner, Legal Aid Society, NY, 1984-1987
- BA — SUNY at Binghamton — 1981
- Registered as a Democrat
- Key takeaway: Judge Eileen A. Rakower is a veteran New York judicial figure with a long career in both public service and the legal aid sector, known for notable rulings on First Amendment issues, administrative law, and urban development projects
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 208 — Uniform Civil Rules New York City Civil Court
Civil Court of the City of New York
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
Civil Court of the City of New York
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
Civil Court of the City of New York
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.
Civil Court of the City of New York current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Civil Court of the City of New York 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 ↗