--- title: "James F. Leonick | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-f-leonick" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # James F. Leonick Suffolk County Family Court · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Suffolk County Family Court - State: New York - Role: Family 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, Suffolk County 1st District Court, Elected, 2026 to 2031 - District Court Judge Suffolk County, 3rd District Court Appointed 2025 to 2025 - Licensed New York attorney and elected District Court Judge in Suffolk County, serving in the Third Judicial District - District Court Judge serving in the Third Judicial District of the Suffolk County District Court System in New York ### Education - Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg law Center — J.D. (1988) - A.A. — Suffolk County Community College — 1983 ### Additional information - His appointment was confirmed by the County Legislature in 2025, and he is currently serving a term through 2031. - B.A. — SUNY at Albany — 1985 - Based in Central Islip, NY, and handles cases within the District Court’s jurisdiction ## 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://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=R1k42AF0zbD4ODRCtCXJiw%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=R1k42AF0zbD4ODRCtCXJiw%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=R1k42AF0zbD4ODRCtCXJiw%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) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. James F. Leonick](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=R1k42AF0zbD4ODRCtCXJiw%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-f-leonick", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-f-leonick", "name": "James F. Leonick | KnowJudges", "description": "James F. Leonick, Suffolk County Family 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/james-f-leonick#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-f-leonick#judge", "name": "James F. 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Leonick", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-f-leonick" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 205 — Uniform Rules Family Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-df42937f9fd0e92b8072) — Family Court proceedings [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-205-uniform-rules-family-court). 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.