Frank Paul Geraci Jr. at a glance
- Current role
- Senior Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Frank Paul Geraci Jr.
Senior Judge · U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York · Judge · Senior · January 2, 2013–present · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Appointment method
- Presidential appointment with Senate confirmation
- Appointing authority
- Barack Obama
- Source authority
- Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory
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Biography
Professional career
- Judge, District Court, W.D. New York, 2013-present
- Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, having assumed senior status on April 1, 2023
- Service: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York (2013–2023)
- Acting justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, 2005-2012
- Judge, Monroe County New York Court, 1999-2012
- Judge, Monroe County Court, Rochester, NY (1999–2012)
- Judge, Rochester City Court, 1992-1998
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Western District of New York, 1983-1987
- Special assistant district attorney, Monroe County, NY, 1978-1983
- Current role: Senior Judge, Western District of New York
Education
- University of Dayton School of Law — J.D. (1977)
- University of Dayton — B.A. (1973)
Additional information
- Chief Judge (2015–2021)
- Private practice, Rochester, NY, 1987-1992
- Born July 14, 1951, Rochester, NY.
- Date of birth: 1951-01-01
- McQuaid Jesuit High School
- Geraci is recognized for his extensive experience in both federal and state courts, his leadership as Chief Judge, and his handling of significant criminal, civil, and constitutional cases
- Birth place: Rochester, NY
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Courtwide
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (3 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
All motions will be submitted without oral argument unless the Court notifies the parties otherwise. The Court requests that courtesy copies of all dispositive motions be provided to chambers. Counsel should refer to Local Rules of Civil Procedures regarding briefing schedules (see Rule 7(b)(2)).
Source page web_or_saved_captureAdjournments
A schedule may be modified only for good cause and with the Court's consent (see Rule 16(b)(4)). Counsel may file letter requests for an adjournment or extension of time with consent by opposing counsel. In the absence of consent by opposing counsel, a motion for adjournment or extension of time must be filed with the Court.
Source page web_or_saved_captureMotion practice
The Court strongly encourages litigants to permit more junior members of the litigation team to examine witnesses at trial and hearings, and to appear for oral argument before the Court. Indeed, in those instances where the Court is inclined to rule on the papers, a representation that the argument would be handled by a more junior lawyer will weigh in favor of holding oral argument. In addition, under circumstances where the more junior attorney is permitted to present the argument to the Court, the Court will entertain reasonable requests for the more senior attorney to supplement any argument that is made. The Court believes it is crucial to provide substantive speaking opportunities to young lawyers, and that the benefits of doing so will accrue to all members of the profession and their clients. Thus, the Court encourages all lawyers practicing before it to keep this goal in mind. It is the way one generation will teach the next to try cases and to maintain our district’s reputation for excellence in trial practice.
Source page web_or_saved_captureShared court rules
Western District of New York — Local Rules of Civil Procedure
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
WDNY federal district-court civil proceedings only; not criminal proceedings or Bankruptcy Court.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory · effective January 2, 2013 · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Federal Judicial Center biography ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · CourtListener / Free Law Project · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗