Emilio L. Colaiacovo at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2029
Emilio L. Colaiacovo
Supreme Court Justice · Erie County Supreme Court
Public docket analytics load when this section is opened.
Biography
Professional career
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Erie County, NY, 2016-2029
- Partner, Bouvier Partnership, LLP, 2002-2015
- Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, serving in the Commercial Division and Medical Malpractice Part of the 8th Judicial District, which includes Erie and several other western New York counties
Education
- JD — University at Buffalo — 2001
- History/Intelligence Analysis, magna cum laude — Mercyhurst University — 1998
Additional information
- Practitioner, Erie County Water Authority, NY, 2005-2015
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 (11 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Communications with chambers
Counsel is to provide chambers a hard copy of all motion papers two weeks prior to oral argument. Answering papers and/or cross-motions must be received at the same time counsel is served pursuant to the applicable provisions of the CPLR, but no less than seven (7) days prior to the return date unless approved by the Court.
Source page 1Adjournments
Reply papers must be served no less than four (4) dates prior to the return date unless approved by the Court. Affidavits or Affirmations shall not exceed the 7,000 word limitation, unless prior approval from the Court is granted. Motions will be adjourned by the Court if papers are not timely filed. This Court does not require the filing of a stipulated statement of uncontested material facts pursuant to 22 NYCRR 202.8-g(c). Motion papers and submitted orders must not be double sided. All motion arguments are in person, unless otherwise approved by the Court.
Source page 1Motion practice
Motions will be called in the order in which they are scheduled. If you wish to have a transcript of the argument, you must request it prior to argument and must make arrangements for payment immediately thereafter.
Source page 1Conferences and appearances
Infant settlements will be in person and in the Courtroom. Infant Plaintiffs and their parent/guardians must be present.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
The Court will use e-mail to schedule conferences and for other general correspondence as often as possible. Counsel should forward the Court an e-mail address to facilitate communication.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
A preliminary conference will be held within forty-five (45) days of the Court’s receipt of a filed RJI. Conferences may be held with the Judge or Law Clerk. Appearances by telephone or TEAMS is not permitted except with prior permission of the Court.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
Commercial/MedicalMalpracticeConferences: A brief summary (no more than a page) of the case is required one week prior to the initial conference. Except as otherwise stated herein, all commercial actions are subject to the rules of practice set forth in Uniform Rules for the New York State Trial Courts § 202.70 (g).
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
MatrimonialConferences: Each party must submit a settlement proposal to the other party in writing no less than two weeks before the initial appearance. The Court should only be copied on the initial settlement proposal.
Source page 2Adjournments
The Court adheres strictly to its trial calendar; adjournments of a trial require a showing of compelling circumstances. No adjournments of trial will be granted other than by the Judge or his staff during a pretrial conference convened to address that issue.
Source page 2Motion practice
Marked pleadings and papers for motions inliminemust be submitted at least two [2] days prior to start of trial. Motions in limine are heard the morning before jury selection begins.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
Formal requests to charge and proposed verdict sheets must be submitted one week prior to jury selection in Microsoft Word format to the Law Clerk. The charge conference will be held following the completion of proof, unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Source page 2Shared 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 ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗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 ↗