James L. Cott at a glance
- Current role
- Magistrate
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
James L. Cott
Magistrate · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Magistrate · Active · March 2, 2010–present · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Source authority
- CourtListener / Free Law Project
Biography
Professional career
- James Cott - Adjunct Professor of Law Fordham Fordham Adjunct James Cott Fordham Law Adjunct Faculty Adjunct Professor of Law Fordham Law Adjunct Faculty Biography James Cott served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of New York from March 2010 until August 2024, and he was the Chief Magistrate Judge from 2022 to 2024
- U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, appointed in 2010, with a career in federal prosecution, civil rights litigation, and legal academia
- His leadership roles in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the NAACP LDF reflect a focus on civil rights enforcement and litigation strategy
Education
- Northeastern School of Law in — J.D. (1985)
- Harvard College, graduating cum laude in — B.A. (1981)
Additional information
- Magistrate, District Court, S.D. New York, 2010-present
- Term: Renewable eight-year term; held the role of Chief Magistrate Judge — 2022–2024
- Judge Cott’s career spans high-profile federal prosecution work, civil rights advocacy, and judicial service
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
New York statewide rules require permission before photographing, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, or telecasting in court facilities, including courtrooms.
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 obtainedPart 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗
Exhibits
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.
1.07. COURT CONTROL OVER PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCEGuide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
SDNY and EDNY — Joint Local Civil and Criminal Rules
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Federal district-court proceedings only. Civil and criminal sections have distinct scope and district-specific exceptions. Not Bankruptcy Court rules.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Southern 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 Southern 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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · CourtListener / Free Law Project · effective March 2, 2010 · Source checked August 2, 2026
View U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York current judicial profile ↗Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · New York State Unified Court System · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role
Statewide source · HTML · New York State Unified Court System · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗