Jessica Gloria Lynn Clarke at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Jessica Gloria Lynn Clarke
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile.
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Judge · Active · April 20, 2023–present · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Appointment method
- Presidential appointment with Senate confirmation
- Appointing authority
- Joseph R. Biden
- Source authority
- Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory
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Biography
Professional career
- American judge serving on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York since April 20, 2023
- Chief, Civil Rights Bureau, New York State Office of the Attorney General, 2019-2023
- Trial attorney, Housing and Civil Enforcement Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 2010-2016
- Law clerk, Hon. Solomon Oliver, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 2008-2010
Education
- Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law — J.D. (2008)
- Northwestern University — B.A. (2005)
Additional information
- Nominated by President Joe Biden on December 15, 2021, to a seat vacated by Judge Colleen McMahon
- Private practice, New York City, 2016-2019
- Born 1983 in Akron, Ohio.
- Date of birth: 1983
- Birth place: Akron
Jessica Gloria Lynn Clarke Procedures & Courtroom Rules
Remote appearances
Judge Specific
Judge Clarke's conferences may be remote or in person, subject to the individual rules.
Conferences may be held remotely or in person.Judge Clarke's Individual Rules and Practices in Civil Cases ↗
Courtwide
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (41 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Filing and working copies
The parties shall provide a courtesy copy of all pretrial submissions to the Court.
Source page 1Motion practice
a. Joint Pretrial Order – Civil Cases Only. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, no later than 30 days after the date for the completion of all discovery or, in the event a dispositive motion is filed, no later than 30 days after the Court’s ruling on such motion, the parties shall file on ECF, as a “Joint Pretrial Statement,” a
Source page 1Trial exhibits and witnesses
v. The number of trial days requested and whether the case is to be tried with or without a jury, without identifying which parties do or do not seek a jury trial;
Source page 1Trial exhibits and witnesses
viii. A statement of whether all parties have consented to trial by a magistrate judge, without identifying which parties do or do not consent;
Source page 2Trial exhibits and witnesses
ix. Any stipulations or agreed statements of fact or law to which all parties consent. In a jury case, the parties should memorialize any such stipulations or agreed statements of fact or law in a standalone document that can be marked and admitted at trial;
Source page 2Discovery
x. A list of all trial witnesses, indicating whether such witnesses will testify in person or by deposition, whether such witnesses will require an interpreter (and, if so, which party will pay the costs for the interpreter), a brief summary of the substance of each witness’s testimony and the expected duration of direct and cross-examination for each witness.
Source page 2Trial exhibits and witnesses
Absent leave of Court, a witness listed by both sides shall testify only once (with the defendant permitted to go beyond the scope of the direct on cross-examination) and counsel should confer with respect to scheduling;
Source page 2Discovery
xi. A designation by each party of deposition testimony to be offered in its case-in-chief and any counter-designations and objections by any other party. The parties need not designate deposition testimony to be used for impeachment purposes only. In addition to a designation list, the parties shall provide the complete deposition transcripts with color-coded highlighting indicating the portions designated by each party and the objections listed in the margins. Any objections not made are waived;
Source page 2Motion practice
i. The parties shall file and serve motions addressing any evidentiary issues or other matters to be resolved in limine (for civil cases, at the time the Joint Pretrial Statement is due). Any party may respond within one week after the filing of an in limine motion. Memoranda of law in connection with a motion in limine are limited to 10 pages. No reply briefs shall be filed.
Source page 3Motion practice
ii. Any party wishing to file a motion in limine must first confer in good faith with the opposing party in an effort to resolve the dispute. Any motion in limine must include a representation that the meet and confer process occurred and was unsuccessful.
Source page 3Filing and working copies
c. Final Pretrial Memorandum of Law. If a party believes it would be useful to the Court, the party may file and serve a pretrial memorandum of law at the time the Joint Pretrial Statement is filed in a jury case. Any party may respond within one week after the filing of a pretrial memorandum of law. The pretrial memorandum and response each shall not exceed 10 pages.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
i. Joint Proposed Voir Dire, Requests to Charge and Verdict Sheet. In all jury cases, the parties shall file joint case-specific proposed voir dire questions, joint proposed case specific requests to charge (in plain English) and a joint verdict sheet at the same time as the parties file the Joint Pretrial Statement. For any proposed voir dire question or request to charge on which the parties cannot agree, each party should clearly set forth its proposed question or charge and briefly state why the Court should use its proposed question or charge, with citations to supporting authority. At the time of filing, parties should also submit copies of these documents to the Court by email (ClarkeNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov) as Microsoft Word documents.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
e. Additional Required Pretrial Submissions in Non-Jury Cases. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, at the time the Joint Pretrial Statement is filed, the parties shall file as well as email to the Court (ClarkeNYSDChambers@nysd.
Source page 3Filing and working copies
i. Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. The proposed findings of fact should be detailed and include citations to the proffered trial testimony and exhibits, as there may be no opportunity for post-trial submissions. The parties must meet and confer in an effort to reach agreement with respect to those findings and conclusions as to which there is no dispute; as to any agreed-upon findings and conclusions, the parties should make a joint submission.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
Parties shall also email to the Court (ClarkeNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov)
Source page 4Filing and working copies
ii. Affidavits. Copies of affidavits constituting the direct testimony of each trial witness, except for the direct testimony of an adverse party, a person whose attendance is compelled by subpoena or a person for whom the Court has agreed to hear direct testimony live at the trial. The affidavit should be treated as a direct substitute for the witness’s live testimony; that is, counsel should be attentive to the Rules of Evidence (e.g., hearsay and the like) and authenticate any exhibits that will be offered through that witness’s testimony. Three business days after submission of such affidavits, counsel for each party shall submit a list of all affiants whom counsel intends to cross-examine at the trial. Only those witnesses who will be cross-examined need to appear at trial. The original signed affidavits should be brought to trial to be marked as exhibits, at which time any objections to particular paragraphs of an affidavit can be made.
Source page 4Discovery
iii. Deposition Excerpts. All deposition excerpts that will be offered as substantive evidence, as well as a one-page synopsis of those excerpts for each deposition. Each synopsis shall include page and line citations to the pertinent pages of the deposition transcripts.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
f. Trial Exhibits and Demonstrative Aids. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, at the time the Joint Pretrial Statement is filed, the parties shall also email to the
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
i. A Microsoft Excel document listing all exhibits sought to be admitted. The list shall contain six columns labeled as follows: (1) “Exhibit Number”; (2) “Description” (of the exhibit); (3) “Authenticity Objection”; (4) “Admissibility Objection”; (5) “Date Identified”; and (6) “Date Admitted.” The parties shall complete the first four columns, but leave the fifth and sixth columns blank, to be filled in by the Court during trial. If a party objects to an exhibit, the objection should be noted in the third and/or fourth columns by indicating the Federal Rule of Evidence that is the basis for the objection and any other authority. Any objections not made shall be deemed waived and any exhibits not objected to shall be deemed admissible at trial. If any party believes that the Court should rule on such an objection in advance of trial, that party should include a notation to that effect (e.g., “Advance Ruling Requested”). In general, the Court will rule on relevance and authenticity objections at the time of trial.
Source page 4Trial exhibits and witnesses
iii. Where a hard copy exhibit is used, sufficient copies should be made, as appropriate, for witnesses, opposing counsel, jurors, the court reporter, any interpreters and the Court. If counsel intends to publish hard copies of documentary exhibits to the jury rather than using the Court’s audio-visual system, a separate copy should be provided for each juror to avoid unnecessary delay.
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
iv. Court time may not be used for marking exhibits. Exhibits shall be pre- marked, and if possible, pre-admitted in advance of the court session.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
If the files are too large for submission by email, the parties shall email ClarkeNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov requesting a link to upload these materials.
Source page 5Conferences and appearances
Demonstratives that will not be introduced into evidence need not be listed, but they must be shared with the Court and opposing counsel. Prior to the final pretrial conference, the parties shall confer in an effort to resolve any objections to the demonstrative aids. Any objections that are not resolved shall be identified in a letter filed at least two business days in advance of the final pretrial conference.
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
i. Schedule. Unless otherwise decided by the Court, trials will generally be conducted Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with breaks throughout the day.
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
When the jury is not seated, the parties may raise issues for rulings that may arise during the trial. In jury trials, in order to keep distractions during the trial to a minimum, counsel shall be present by 9:00 a.m. and available after 4:30 p.m. to discuss scheduling and any disputed matters that may arise.
Source page 5Conferences and appearances
ii. Time Limits. In most civil cases, the Court will impose time limits on both sides at the final prehearing or pretrial conference. The parties should be prepared to address the issue of time limits at the final prehearing or pretrial conference.
Source page 5Conferences and appearances
iii. Sidebars. Sidebars are strongly disfavored and will not be permitted if abused. Counsel are expected to anticipate any issues that might require argument and to raise those issues with the Court in advance of the time that the jury will be hearing the evidence, ideally in advance of the final pretrial conference.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
v. Witness availability. The parties are expected to present witnesses throughout the entire trial day. Unless good cause is shown, if a party does not have another witness available on a given day, that party will be deemed to have rested. Counsel shall notify the Court and other counsel in writing, at the earliest possible time, of any particular scheduling problems involving witnesses so that other arrangements can be made to fill the trial day.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
ii. Next, peremptory challenges are exercised against the panelists who compose the potential members of the regular jury. Peremptory challenges will be exercised simultaneously, with the parties each submitting a written list of panelists that they wish to excuse. Any overlap among those lists will not result in parties receiving additional challenges. The jurors will be selected starting with the unchallenged juror with the lowest number.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
Preliminary instructions will facilitate better decision-making by jurors as well as a greater understanding of their duty in the decision-making process. Jurors’ ability to recall relevant evidence and apply the law to the facts will improve if they understand in advance the context in which they will be required to evaluate or analyze the evidence presented during the trial.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
1. Juror Note Taking. Jurors will be permitted but not required to take notes during the trial. Jurors will be instructed that the notes are to aid their memory of the evidence and are not to substitute for their recollection of the evidence in the case.1 The Court will provide each juror with a notebook or paper and pens. The notes will be collected and destroyed at the conclusion of the trial.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
1 Sample jury instruction: “If you took notes during the course of the trial, you shall not show your notes to or discuss your notes with any other juror during your deliberations. Any notes you have taken are to be used solely to assist you. The fact that a particular juror has taken notes entitles that juror’s views to no greater weight than those of any other juror. Finally, your notes are not to substitute for your recollection of the evidence in the case. If you have any doubt as to any testimony, you may request that the testimony be read back to you as I mentioned earlier.”
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
deliberations. Immediately before the jury deliberates, the parties shall provide the court with digital copies of the admitted exhibits as set forth in Section 1(f) above.
Source page 8Courtroom conduct and technology
a. Counsel shall address all remarks to the Court, not to opposing counsel.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
b. Only one attorney for each party shall examine, or cross-examine, each witness. The attorney stating objections, if any, during direct examination, shall be the attorney recognized for cross-examination. The attorney who conducts direct examination shall be the attorney who states any objections during cross- examination.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
c. In making an objection, counsel shall be brief and direct. (For example, “Objection, hearsay.”) In jury trials, counsel shall not argue the objection in the presence of the jury or argue with the ruling of the Court in the presence of the jury.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
d. Offers of, or requests for, a stipulation should be made privately, not within the hearing of the jury. In most instances, stipulations should be reduced to writing in a form that can be marked and admitted at trial.
Source page 8Motion practice
e. During jury trials, counsel shall not make any motion (e.g., for a mistrial) in the presence of the jury. Such matters may be raised during a recess.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
g. Counsel should avoid delay by having all exhibits counsel intends to use with a witness prepared and readily accessible when commencing the examination.
Source page 8Communications with chambers
as laptops and tablets) within the Courthouse and its environs is governed by Standing Order M10-468. When Court permission is required under the Standing Order, attorneys seeking to bring electronic devices to the Court should email a completed Model Court Order to ClarkeNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov no later than five business days before the relevant trial or hearing.
Source page 9Communications with chambers
c. Technology Walkthrough. If a party wishes to use audio-visual equipment at a hearing or trial, it is that party’s responsibility to ensure that any required approvals are obtained and that the necessary equipment is set up and working properly in advance of trial. The party should contact Sophia Tran, Courtroom Deputy, at ClarkeNYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov, sufficiently in advance of trial to make the necessary arrangements for a technology walkthrough and to test the equipment.
Source page 9Shared 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 July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 3, 2026.
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory · effective April 20, 2023 · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Federal Judicial Center biography ↗Judge Clarke's Individual Rules and Practices in Civil Cases
Judge Specific source · PDF · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · effective April 2, 2025 · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Judge Clarke's Individual Rules and Practices in Civil Cases ↗Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗