John F. Richey at a glance
- Current role
- Acting Justice
- Current assignment
- Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
John F. Richey
Acting Justice · Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District
Biography
Professional career
- Acting Justice, Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District, NY, 2017-present
- Judge, Surrogate's Court, St. Lawrence County, NY, 2015-2024
- Judge of the St. Lawrence County Surrogate’s Court in New York’s 4th Judicial District, elected in 2014 for a term ending December 31, 2024
- Judge Richey announced his retirement on February 17, 2022, after nearly seven years on the Surrogate’s Court bench
- Acting Justice of the Supreme Court — Appointed in 2017 by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks
- Surrogate Judge, St. Lawrence County — Elected November 4, 2014, unopposed; took office January 2015
- Principle Court Attorney, Surrogate's Court, NY State Unified Court System, 1989-2014
- Justice, New York Town and Village Justice Courts, Village Court of Massena, 1992-2002
Education
- Syracuse University — J.D. (1985)
- Le Moyne College — B.A. (1981)
Additional information
- 1992–2002: Town Judge and Acting Village Judge of Massena, NY
- Originally from Massena, NY, and has had a long career in the New York Unified Court System and in local judicial roles
- handling foreclosure and matrimonial cases
- County and Family Court Judge — Has presided over matters in both St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties
- Notable Cases During his tenure, Judge Richey has presided over numerous family matters, including divorce and annulment cases in St. Lawrence County
- Instructor at the David Sullivan Police Academy and in Town/Village Judge Training
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
Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District
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
Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District
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
Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District
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
Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District
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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Supreme Court, Fourth Judicial District current judicial profile ↗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 ↗