John R Higgitt at a glance
- Current role
- Judicial Officer
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
John R Higgitt
Judicial Officer · Bronx County Supreme Court
Judicial assignments
- New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First DepartmentJusticeSource checked October 15, 2026. Roster source
These published assignments do not certify a complete bench.
Biography
Professional career
- John Higgitt has held the role of an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department since May 2021, where he hears appeals in civil and criminal cases originating from the State Supreme Court, Surrogate’s Court, Family Court, and the Court of Claims in Manhattan and The Bronx.
- Supreme Court Justice, Supreme Court, Appellate Term, First Department, Appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks, 2020 to Present
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Bronx County, New York, NY, 2020-present
- Associate Justice, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York, NY, 2020-present
- Judge, New York Court of Claims, New York, NY, 2018-2019
- Justice Higgitt’s judicial career began with his appointment to the New York State Court of Claims in June 2018, followed by service as an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court in Bronx County from June 2018 to December 2019
- Law Clerk, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, 2005-2009
- Law Clerk, New York Supreme Court, New York County, New York, NY, 2003-2005
Education
- Albany Law School — J.D. (2001)
Additional information
- Then elected to the Bronx County Supreme Court bench in January 2020 and served on the Appellate Term, First Department from August 2020 to May 2021 New York State Unified Court System.
- Practitioner, NYS Unified Court System-Supreme Court, Bronx County, New York, NY, 2015-2018
- Official Referee, NYS Unified Court System-Supreme Court, Bronx County, New York, NY, 2010-2015
- Practitioner, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, NY, 2009-2010
- Practitioner, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, NY, 2002-2003
- SUNY Cortland — B.A., sociology, 1998
- John Higgitt is a highly experienced New York State judge with a career spanning appellate and trial courts, including the Court of Claims and Supreme Court in Bronx County.
- Prior to his judicial appointments, Higgitt held several positions within the New York State Unified Court System, including appellate court attorney in the Appellate Division, Second Department, principal law clerk in both the State Supreme Court and Appellate Division, and court attorney referee in Bronx County
- Current court assignment: Supreme Court, Bronx County
- His legal training and early career experience provided a foundation for his subsequent judicial appointments
- His current role in the Appellate Division, First Department, along with his committee leadership, highlights his influence in shaping civil practice and judicial procedures in New York State
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
Bronx 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
Bronx County Supreme Court
Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Practice Rules of the Appellate Division — 22 NYCRR Part 1250
New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department
Appellate Division matters only; not Appellate Terms or the Court of Appeals. Preserve the applicable department rules.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Bronx County Supreme Court; New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department
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
Bronx County Supreme Court; New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department
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 ↗