--- title: "G Robert Witmer | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/g-robert-witmer-7972" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # G Robert Witmer Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York · Judge ## Profile - Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York - State: New York - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, 1963-present - G. Robert Witmer (1904–2007) was a distinguished New York State judge, serving on the Appellate Division and the Supreme Court for over 50 years, and known for his extensive legal scholarship and public service - After retirement in 1980, he held the role of a Judicial Hearing Officer and administered the Preargument Program for the Fourth Department until 1994, at age 90 - Associate Justice, New York Appellate Division, Fourth Department (1967–1980) - Supreme Court, 7th Judicial District (1953–1980), including as the first Administrative Judge for the district (1962–1968) - Part-time Associate Justice, Appellate Division, First Department (1963–1971) ### Education - Tennessee Wesleyan College — B.A. ### Additional information - Witmer was a charter member of the Pattern Jury Instructions Committee (1962–1987) and co-chair of the New York State Bar Association Committee that prepared the Practitioner’s Handbook for Appeals to the Appellate Divisions. - He also served temporarily on the New York Court of Appeals in 1974 - 1933–1934: Town Attorney of Webster. - Born December 26, 1904 in Webster, New York, Witmer completed studies at Webster High School (1922), the University of Rochester (1926), and Harvard Law School (1929). - Date of birth: 1904-12-26 - Began practicing law in Rochester and later formed the partnership Easton and Witmer ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### recording and photography Scope: statewide New York statewide rules require permission before photographing, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, or telecasting in court facilities, including courtrooms. Evidence excerpt: 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 obtained [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### evidence presentation control Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 1.07. COURT CONTROL OVER PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE [Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role](https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/evidence/1-GENERAL/1-generalprovisions.shtml) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7972/g-robert-witmer/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7972/g-robert-witmer/) - [Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7972/g-robert-witmer/) - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true) - [Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role](https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/evidence/1-GENERAL/1-generalprovisions.shtml) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7972/g-robert-witmer/) - [G. Robert Witmer - Historical Society of the New York Courts](https://history.nycourts.gov/biography/g-robert-witmer) - [G. Robert Witmer - Historical Society of the New York Courts](https://history.nycourts.gov/biography/g-robert-witmer-2) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/g-robert-witmer-7972", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/g-robert-witmer-7972", "name": "G Robert Witmer | KnowJudges", "description": "G Robert Witmer, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/g-robert-witmer-7972#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/g-robert-witmer-7972#judge", "name": "G Robert Witmer", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/g-robert-witmer-7972", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7972/g-robert-witmer/" ], "birthDate": "1904-12-26", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Harvard Law School" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Tennessee Wesleyan College" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "New York", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/new-york" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "G Robert Witmer", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/g-robert-witmer-7972" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Practice Rules of the Appellate Division — 22 NYCRR Part 1250](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-f25158f78380e6ddc10f) — Appellate Division matters only; not Appellate Terms or the Court of Appeals. Preserve the applicable department rules. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/AD1/Practice&Procedures/rules.shtml). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-99a7824bb8e009643f842c03) — 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](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-34fe480ab82f22fa3c31d257) — 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](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true). Collected 2026-07-26.