--- title: "Heather L. Dukes | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heather-l-dukes" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Heather L. Dukes Rensselaer County City Court · City Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Rensselaer County City Court - State: New York - Role: City Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - City Court Judge, Rensselaer City Court, Appointed by Mayor Michael E. Stammel, 2025 to 2030 ### Education - American University, Washington College of Law — J.D. (2001) - Union College — B.A. (1998) ### Additional information - Judge Heather L. Dukes currently presides over the Rensselaer County City Court, having been appointed to a term beginning in 2025 and set to continue through 2030. - She specializes in matrimonial and family law and has been a member of the Attorney for the Child panel in Rensselaer County Family Court since 2010. - Heather L. Dukes, Esq., Private Practice, 2010 to Present - Unity House of Troy, Inc., Senior Counsel, 2006 to Present - County Family Court, Attorney for Children, 2010 to 2024 - Before her appointment as a judge, Heather Dukes was a practicing attorney in Troy, New York, admitted to the New York State Bar in 2005. - She has shared her expertise through seminars and mentorship, emphasizing family law, domestic violence, and procedural justice - Representing domestic violence survivors, and teaching law at Mildred Elley College in Albany, New York Prior to her current judicial role, she held the role of Cohoes City Judge for four years, where she initiated the United Against Crime-Community Action Network (U-CAN), the first court-based community action program in the area. - Her legal career also includes work with Unity House ## 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 ### electronic appearances Scope: statewide For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### justice court civil procedure Scope: statewide New York Part 214 applies statewide to civil actions and proceedings in Town, Village, and City Justice Courts outside New York City; each court establishes and posts its regular sessions, subject to modification by the Chief Administrator. Evidence excerpt: This Part shall be applicable to all actions and proceedings in the Town, Village and City Justice Courts of the State of New York, outside the City of New York. [Part 214: Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-214-uniform-civil-rules-justice-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-27 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=uhTB9OSM1tqob5DVpo6V5g%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=uhTB9OSM1tqob5DVpo6V5g%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=uhTB9OSM1tqob5DVpo6V5g%3D%3D) - [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) - [Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction) - [Part 214: Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-214-uniform-civil-rules-justice-courts) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. Heather Dukes](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=uhTB9OSM1tqob5DVpo6V5g%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heather-l-dukes", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heather-l-dukes", "name": "Heather L. Dukes | KnowJudges", "description": "Heather L. Dukes, Rensselaer County City Court. 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/heather-l-dukes#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heather-l-dukes#judge", "name": "Heather L. 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Dukes", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heather-l-dukes" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-5e0f997e8c334d15fbc4) — State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction). Collected 2026-10-27. - [22 NYCRR Part 210 — Uniform Civil Rules City Courts Outside City New York](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-f979bc267acf4bd3f61f) — Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-210-uniform-civil-rules-city-courts-outside-city-new-york). 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.