--- title: "Janet L. McFarland | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/janet-l-mcfarland" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Janet L. McFarland New York County Family Court · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: New York 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, Family Court of the City of New York, Richmond County, Appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio, 2021 to 2021, Reappointed, 2022 to 2032 - NYS Unified Court System, Court Attorney Referee for the Family Court of the City of New York, Richmond County, 2017 to 2021 - NYS Unified Court System, Principal Attorney for the Mental Hygiene Legal Service, Appellate Division, 2nd Dept., 2007 to 2017 - Bronx County District Attorney's Office, Assistant District Attorney, 2000 to 2007 - Registered with the Office of Court Administration (OCA) as Janet Lynn McFarland, Attorney #4017844 ### Education - Brooklyn Law School — J.D. (2000) - Fordham University — B.A. (1988) ### Additional information - New York State judge presiding over family cases in the Family Court of New York County (Manhattan), having served on the bench for six years - Experienced New York family court judge with a background in public defense, legal services, and judicial administration. ## 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=APXAVh/QEeP5oyn9Ny6nkg%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=APXAVh/QEeP5oyn9Ny6nkg%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=APXAVh/QEeP5oyn9Ny6nkg%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. Janet L. McFarland](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=APXAVh/QEeP5oyn9Ny6nkg%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/janet-l-mcfarland", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/janet-l-mcfarland", "name": "Janet L. McFarland | KnowJudges", "description": "Janet L. McFarland, New York 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/janet-l-mcfarland#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/janet-l-mcfarland#judge", "name": "Janet L. 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McFarland", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/janet-l-mcfarland" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.