--- title: "Jacob Zelmanovitz | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jacob-zelmanovitz" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Jacob Zelmanovitz Kings County Criminal Court · Criminal Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Kings County Criminal Court - State: New York - Role: Criminal 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 - Judge, New York City Criminal Court, Designated by Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas, 2025 to Present - New York City Civil Court judge for Kings County’s 5th Municipal Court District, elected in November 2024, with a term running through 2035 - Judge, New York City Civil Court Elected 2025 to 2034 - NYS Unified Court System, Court Attorney / Law Clerk to the Hon. Saul Stein, 2022 to 2024 - The Law Office of Sheldon Eisenberger, Associate, 2004 to 2005 - Motola, Klar, Dinowitz & Carfora, LLP, Associate, 2003 to 2004 - Fish & Richardson, P.C., Associate, 2001 to 2002 - Judge in the New York City Civil Court, Kings County, specifically for the Brooklyn 5th Municipal Court District - He also held the role of associate court attorney at the New York City Civil Court, Kings County, assisting in commercial landlord‐tenant, consumer debt, and insurance disputes Brooklyn Eagle ### Education - Fordham University School of Law — J.D. (2001) - Brooklyn College, City University of New York — B.S. (1998) ### Additional information - He assumed office on January 1, 2025 and his term ends January 1, 2035. - He won a special general election on November 5, 2024, defeating Hemalee Patel and Benjamin Lieberman. - The Law Office of Jacob Zelmanovitz, Sole Practitioner, 2006 to 2021 - Lay leader in his synagogue, Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr of Marine Park, and volunteers for the Chevra Kadisha of Flatbush, a Jewish burial society. - Before becoming a judge, Zelmanovitz had a 20+ year legal career in state and federal courts, arbitration panels, and administrative tribunals. - He has also provided counseling to individuals facing consumer and business debt - Zelmanovitz is a Democrat and, according to his campaign site, a Brooklyn resident with a B.A. in computer and information sciences from Brooklyn College and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law ## 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 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/JudicialDirectory) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/JudicialDirectory) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/JudicialDirectory) - [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) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. Jacob Zelmanovitz](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=W9WBz6q2gHp90aoXFLBLGw%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jacob-zelmanovitz", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jacob-zelmanovitz", "name": "Jacob Zelmanovitz | KnowJudges", "description": "Jacob Zelmanovitz, Kings County Criminal Court. 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[Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction). 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.