Joan B. Lefkowitz at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Joan B. Lefkowitz
Justice · Westchester County Supreme Court
Biography
Professional career
- Justice, Supreme Court, Westchester County, Elected 1991 to Present
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Westchester County, NY, 1991-2032
- Judge, Family Court, Westchester County, NY, 1987-1990
- Joan B. Lefkowitz (Ret.) is a trailblazer in the New York legal community, recognized for 41 years of judicial service and now serving as Chair of Mediation Practice at Lachtman Cohen & Belowich LLP
- Specialized roles: Supervising Judge for Fiduciary & Guardianship Matters; presided over the Medical Malpractice Conference Part; pioneered the Settlement Conference Part in Westchester Supreme Court, a model for judicial efficiency
Education
- Brooklyn Law School — J.D. (1973)
Additional information
- adj-prof, Pace University-New York, NY, 1985-1987
- Law Assistant, Civil Court of the City of New York, NY, 1974-1975
- with honors — New York University — 1970
- Date of birth: 1949-06-28
- Current court assignment: Supreme Court, Westchester County
- Known for fairness, pragmatism, and dispute resolution skill.
- Post-retirement, she leads mediation services at Lachtman Cohen & Belowich LLP in White Plains, NY, applying her decades of judicial experience to help parties reach practical, lasting resolutions
- She mentored numerous law students and interns, and has been active in bar and community organizations, including the New York State Bar Association, Westchester County Bar Association, and Justice Brandeis Law Society
- Birth place: Manhattan, New York City, NY
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
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Westchester County Supreme Court
State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-2722 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court
Westchester County Supreme Court
Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Westchester County Supreme Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Westchester County Supreme Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · 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 · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗