Frank Caruso at a glance
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- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
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Frank Caruso
Supreme Court Justice · Niagara County Supreme Court
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Biography
Professional career
- Justice of the New York Supreme Court, 8th Judicial District, serving in Niagara County since 2006, with a career spanning local, municipal, and state judicial roles
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Niagara County, NY, 2008-2021
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Niagara County, 2006-2007
- Acting Judge, Buffalo City Court, 2001-2006
- Justice, New York Justice Court, Tonowanda, NY, 1996-2006
- 1995–2006: Town Justice, Tonawanda Town Court
- Niagara County motions are generally heard on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m., with specific rules for filing, deadlines, and oral argument requirements outlined in the judge’s official rules
Education
- University of Dayton — J.D. (1982)
- BA — University at Buffalo — 1978
Additional information
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 (8 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
A working copy of any and all motions, answering papers, reply affidavits, memoranda and correspondence to the Court is NOT required to be submitted.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Except for e-filed cases (see above), motions, cross-motions and orders to show cause will not be scheduled until and unless chambers receives a paid, stamped special term note of issue obtained through the County Clerk.
Source page 1Adjournments
All moving papers, answering papers, reply affidavits, memoranda and paid Special Term Notes of Issue, are to be received in Chambers by 3:00 p.m. three days before the return date, notwithstanding CPLR 2214(b), any papers submitted after 3:00 p.m. three days before the return date may result in an adjournment, at the Court’s discretion. Affirmation of good faith required for discovery motions. Oral argument required unless consent by all attorneys to submit papers is received or the Court directs otherwise. TROs handled on a case-by-case basis. TROs must be on notice to other attorney if known or where a government entity is involved. Orders to Show Cause/TROs on a case assigned to another judge will be signed only upon prior written
Source page 1Adjournments
approval of IAS judge or his/her law clerk. Motions cannot be adjourned generally, however adjournments to a specific date are granted upon consent of all parties and if not upon consent, as the Court may decide noting a liberal adjournment policy especially with respect to motions made within the minimum time limits of the CPLR and for summary judgment motions.
Source page 2Adjournments
All motion papers, including cross-motions, answering affidavits, and reply affidavits must be submitted to the Court within the time periods prescribed herein and the CPLR, unless the Court directs otherwise. Failure to comply with the filing deadline may result either in an adjournment of the motion or refusal by the Court to consider the untimely submission.
Source page 2Adjournments
Preliminary conferences will be scheduled within 45 days of the filing of the RJI and are mandatory. At the conference, a scheduling order may be issued. Pretrial conferences will be scheduled as the Court deems necessary. All conferences shall be before IAS judge or Law Clerk. Adjournments will be granted only with consent of all attorneys or with Court approval.
Source page 2Motion practice
Pleadings, list of witnesses, proposed jury charge and verdict sheets and papers on motions in limine required prior to jury selection.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
Jury selection begins at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday with proof to begin the following day unless by agreement of the parties or direction by the Court of an alternate schedule. Charge conference with the Judge shall take place after proof is completed but before closing statements with results put on record upon request.
Source page 2Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Niagara 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
Niagara 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
Niagara 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
Niagara 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 ↗