Jonathan W. Feldman at a glance
- Current role
- U.S. Magistrate Judge
- Current assignment
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Jonathan W. Feldman
U.S. Magistrate Judge · U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York · U.S. Magistrate Judge · Active · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Source authority
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Biography
Professional career
- Retired recalled magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, serving from November 6, 1995, until November 5, 2019
- 1992–1995: Federal Public Defender for the Western District of New York
- Private practice as co-founder of Geraci & Feldman in Rochester, NY (1987–1992)
Education
- Cornell University — B.A. (1978)
Additional information
- Magistrate, District Court, W.D. New York, 1995-present
- Recalled: Reappointed in 2021 as a recalled magistrate judge
- Later recalled to the bench in 2021
- Appointed: November 6, 1995, as a federal magistrate judge by President Bill Clinton
- 1983–1987: Assistant U.S. Attorney.
- 1982–1983: Michael A. Telesca.
- Pataki — Applied the Rooker-Feldman doctrine to dismiss jurisdiction over a challenge to New York’s “Son of Sam” law
- Appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts to the Federal Judicial Center’s governing board and the Judicial Conference Committee on Defender Services
- Served on the Magistrate Judge Education Committee of the Federal Judicial Center and as its primary instructor in federal criminal practice
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Courtwide
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (3 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Motion practice
Oral argument is not required for every motion. When it is requested, or the Court desires oral argument, or both, the Court will set return dates and schedule oral argument. Judge Feldman requires courtesy copies of motion papers filed on CM/ECF.
Source page web_or_saved_captureMotion practice
Judge Feldman follows the requirements of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. When parties agree on a request for an extension, they should send a letter request to Judge Feldman instead of filing a formal motion. Style Guide
Source page web_or_saved_captureMotion practice
The Court strongly encourages litigants to permit more junior members of the litigation team to examine witnesses at trial and hearings, and to appear for oral argument before the Court. Indeed, in those instances where the Court is inclined to rule on the papers, a representation that the argument would be handled by a more junior lawyer will weigh in favor of holding oral argument. In addition, under circumstances where the more junior attorney is permitted to present the argument to the Court, the Court will entertain reasonable requests for the more senior attorney to supplement any argument that is made. The Court believes it is crucial to provide substantive speaking opportunities to young lawyers, and that the benefits of doing so will accrue to all members of the profession and their clients. Thus, the Court encourages all lawyers practicing before it to keep this goal in mind. It is the way one generation will teach the next to try cases and to maintain our district’s reputation for excellence in trial practice.
Source page web_or_saved_captureShared court rules
Western District of New York — Local Rules of Civil Procedure
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
WDNY federal district-court civil proceedings only; not criminal proceedings or Bankruptcy Court.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 29, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster
Identity source · HTML · Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts · Source checked July 29, 2026
View U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · CourtListener / Free Law Project · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · CourtListener / Free Law Project · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗