Eleanora Ofshtein at a glance
- Current role
- Housing Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2032
Eleanora Ofshtein
Housing Court Judge · New York County Housing Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks 2017-2022
- Judge, Housing Court, Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau, 2007 to 2012
- New York Civil Housing Court, Court Attorney, 1998 to 2007
- Sperber Denenberg Kahan, PC, Associate
- Judge of the Housing Court of the City of New York, serving in New York County (Manhattan) and previously in Kings County (Brooklyn)
Education
- New York University — B.A.
- New England Law School — J.D.
Additional information
- Appointments: 2007 — Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau 2012 — Re‐appointed by Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti 2017 — Re‐appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks 2022 — Appointed for a term 2022–2032
- Reappoint, 2022 to 2027
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
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (10 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Conferences and appearances
APPEARANCES & DEFAULTS: All parties and attorneys must check in with court personnel. Attorneys, including those who appear of-counsel, must file a notice of appearance with the clerk or NYSCEF. Notices, including for appearance/withdrawal/substitution/unavailability, must be filed with the clerk or NYSCEF.
Source page 1Conferences and appearances
For unavailability, the specifics of counsel’s engagement, or a compelling reason, must be provided. Failure to check in within 30-minutes of the scheduled time is considered a default. If defaulted, the case may be disposed of at the court’s discretion. There will be no roll or calendar call.
Source page 1Filing and working copies
NON-PAYMENT CASE DEFAULTS: The party seeking a default is required to provide information as to whether payments have been made since the petition. Such information may be provided to court personnel, emailed to Part A, uploaded on NYSCEF, or provided in an affidavit/affirmation. Any rent ledger provided should remove inappropriate fees.
Source page 1Adjournments
If information is not provided by 4:30PM, the case may be adjourned, marked off-calendar or dismissed. If the court cannot decipher a rent ledger, a judgment of possession may be entered. Petitioner’s counsel must be prepared to explain any inconsistencies in the ledger, at the time it is provided.
Source page 1Adjournments
In the event Petitioner seeks more than 2 adjournments, the case may be marked off-calendar or dismissed. Uploaded/NYSCEF exhibits are for identification only, and are not deemed evidence until accepted by the court.
Source page 1Adjournments
For 2-attorney cases, check with the court attorney for appropriate adjournment dates. The court will allocute every stipulation with a pro se litigant. Any fees not appropriate to Housing Court must be removed. Counsel leaving a stipulation to do other cases, must return to check on the case within a reasonable time.
Source page 1Motion practice
The stipulation must be legible, or it may be rejected. The stipulation must reflect any outstanding motions.
Source page 1Motion practice
A Pre-Trial Order must be filled out by the parties at an in-person conference. The answer must be noted, or may be deemed a General Denial. Motion practice will be deemed completed. Cases sent out for trial are deemed trial-ready and the parties must go directly to the expediter upon completion of the conference.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
EMAILS: Emails are a courtesy. The court may not have time to respond to emails. Emails must include all parties since ex parte communications are prohibited. The court will not allow litigation/arguments via emails.
Source page 1Motion practice
MOTIONS: All motions should be made returnable at 9:30AM or 10:30AM. Parties may not stipulate to mark a motion submitted.
Source page 1Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 208 — Uniform Civil Rules New York City Civil Court
New York County Civil 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
New York County Civil 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
New York County Civil 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 ↗