--- title: "John M. Czygier | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-m-czygier-15404" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # John M. Czygier NYS Unified Court System, Suffolk County Surrogate's Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: NYS Unified Court System, Suffolk County Surrogate's Court - State: New York - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Appointed Judge of the Surrogate’s Court by Governor George Pataki in May 2001; elected to a 10‐year term in November 2001 and re‐elected in 2011 - He became a partner of that firm (which was renamed to Gatz, Arnoff & Czygier) in 1977 - Began his career in 1974 as an Assistant District Attorney in Suffolk County - The following year, he became an associate of the law firm of Gatz and Arnoff - Judge, NYS Unified Court System, Suffolk County Surrogate's Court, ?-present - John M. Czygier, Jr. is a distinguished New York attorney and former judge of the Surrogate’s Court of Suffolk County, now serving as Senior Counsel with the law firm Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP ### Education - Hofstra University School of Law in — J.D. (1974) - Adelphi University in — B.A. (1970) ### Additional information - In May 2025, the Suffolk County Bar Association honored Judge Czygier with the Golden Anniversary Award for 50 years of legal service with honor and dignity - In 2002, he joined the Surrogate's Court. - He ran his own firm, the Law Offices of John M. Czygier, Jr., from 1995 through 2001. ## 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://www.courtlistener.com/person/15404/john-m-czygier/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15404/john-m-czygier/) - [NYS Unified Court System, Suffolk County Surrogate's Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15404/john-m-czygier/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15404/john-m-czygier/) - [John M. Czygier, Jr. - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_M._Czygier,_Jr.) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-m-czygier-15404", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-m-czygier-15404", "name": "John M. Czygier | KnowJudges", "description": "John M. Czygier, NYS Unified Court System, Suffolk County Surrogate's 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/john-m-czygier-15404#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-m-czygier-15404#judge", "name": "John M. 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Czygier", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-m-czygier-15404" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 207 — Uniform Rules Surrogates Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-760d2f4782807d6f93a2) — Surrogate's Court proceedings [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-207-uniform-rules-surrogates-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.