John J. Ark at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Current assignment
- New York Supreme Court, Monroe County
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
John J. Ark
Justice · New York Supreme Court, Monroe County
Biography
Professional career
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Monroe County, 2017-present
- Retired justice of the New York State Supreme Court, serving in the 7th Judicial District (Monroe County and surrounding counties) for 28 years, from his election in 1994 until his retirement on December 31, 2020
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Monroe County, 2008-2016
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Monroe County, 1994-2007
- Acted as Rochester City Court Judge for 2 years
- John J. Ark Justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Monroe County (Ret.) The Honorable John J. Ark served as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court for 28 years
- He also served on the New York State Commission on Drugs and the Courts, the Monroe County Jury Board, and as a court-appointed arbitrator and mediator
- Prior to serving on the bench, Justice Ark practiced law for 19 years while serving 14 years as a Brighton Town Justice, 2 years as an acting Rochester The Honorable John J. Ark served as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court for 28 years.
Education
- JD — University at Buffalo — 1973
- MBA — Syracuse University — 1971
- Bucknell University — B.A. (1967)
Additional information
- Elected to the Monroe County Supreme Court in 1994 and presided over matters in all eight counties of the 7th Judicial District, plus five terms in New York County.
- Practiced law for 19 years, including 14 years as a Brighton Town Justice
- Supervising Judge of the Matrimonial Part for eight years
- overseeing nearly 20,000 matrimonial matters and disposing of almost 1,000 divorces
- Supervising Judge for toxic torts for eight years
- handling over 700 cases and settling 98% of them, including lead paint, asbestos, and mesothelioma claims
- At retirement, he was among the last New York judges certified to try death penalty cases
- John J. Ark (Ret.) - National Arbitration and Mediation Prior to serving on the bench, Justice Ark practiced law for 19 years while serving 14 years as a Brighton Town Justice, 2 years as an acting Rochester City Court Judge, and 5 years as an Assistant District Attorney for Monroe County.
- Ark taught business law at the University of Rochester and tax law at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
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
Monroe 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
Monroe 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
Monroe 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
Monroe 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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
New York Supreme Court, Monroe County current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View New York Supreme Court, Monroe County 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 ↗