--- title: "James L. Cott | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-l-cott-9439" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-08" --- # James L. Cott U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Magistrate ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York - State: New York - Role: Magistrate - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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 ## 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/9439/james-l-cott/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9439/james-l-cott/) - [U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9439/james-l-cott/) - [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/9439/james-l-cott/) - [James L. Cott - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/James_L._Cott) - [James Cott - Adjunct Professor of Law](https://www.fordham.edu/school-of-law/faculty/directory/adjunct/james-cott) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-l-cott-9439", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-l-cott-9439", "name": "James L. Cott | KnowJudges", "description": "James L. Cott, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-08", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-l-cott-9439#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-l-cott-9439#judge", "name": "James L. 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[Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — 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](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.