Joseph C. Lorigo at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2036
Joseph C. Lorigo
Supreme Court Justice · Erie County Supreme Court
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Biography
Professional career
- Republican‐affiliated judge on the New York State Supreme Court, serving the 8th Judicial District (Erie County) since January 1, 2023, with a term ending in 2036
- Justice, Supreme Court, Erie County, Elected, 2023 to 2036
- Law Office of Ralph C. Lorigo, Attorney, 2008 to 2022
- Early career: Attorney at The Law Office of Ralph C. Lorigo
Education
- J.D. — SUNY at Buffalo Law School — 2007
- Canisius College — B.A. (2003)
Additional information
- Erie County Legislature, 10th District Legislator, 2012 to 2022
- M.B.A. — SUNY at Buffalo School of Management — 2007
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 ↗
Statewide
In New York Supreme Court and County Court civil cases, the court may require indexed trial exhibit binders, notebooks, or electronic equivalents for the court, counsel, and witnesses.
The court may direct that on the first day of trial or at such other time as the court may set, counsel shall submit an indexed binder or notebook, or the electronic equivalent, of trial exhibits for the court's use.Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗
Statewide
Civil trial counsel in New York Supreme Court and County Court must confer before trial and attempt to agree on exhibits to be offered without objection, unless the court directs otherwise.
Counsel for the parties shall consult prior to trial and shall in good faith attempt to agree upon the exhibits that will be offered into evidence without objection.Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
For Commercial Division matters, New York rules encourage Virtual Evidence Courtrooms for managing and presenting trial evidence after authorization by request or court direction.
Virtual Evidence Courtrooms (VECs) may be used to facilitate real-time access to trial exhibits and other relevant documents.Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗
Statewide
For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements.
For all hybrid proceedings, all electronic appearances shall be projected in the physical courtroom in which the in-person portion of the proceeding is taking place in such a manner as to provide a reasonable opportunity for members of the public to view and hear the participants appearing electronically.Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (12 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Conferences and appearances
A preliminary conference will be held within forty-five (45) days after the Court receives a filed RJI. All conferences will be held with either the Judge or the Law Clerk and will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Appearances by telephone are not permitted without the Court’s explicit permission. Preliminary conferences in matrimonial cases require the submission of a DRL § 236(b) Affidavit from both parties one (1) week prior to the scheduled conference.
Source page 1Motion practice
I. Orders to Show Cause: Motions shall be brought on by Order to Show Cause only when there is a genuine urgency, a stay is required, or a statute mandates so proceeding (NY Ct R § 202.8-d). The Court will not sign an Order to Show Cause that does not meet these requirements and will instead direct the parties to seek relief by way of a Notice of Motion pursuant to CPLR § 2214.
Source page 1Motion practice
II. Motions: All motions are heard in person every Tuesday of the month during the Court’s designated special term. All papers must be filed electronically through NYSCEF to be considered by the Court. Hard copies of motion papers are not required.
Source page 1Adjournments
Counsel must comply with CPLR § 2214 when serving moving, opposing, and reply papers unless otherwise and specifically authorized by the Court. Late submissions may result in an adjournment of the motion or rejection of them as untimely. Pursuant to 22 NYCRR § 202.8-c, absent express permission from the Court in advance, sur-reply papers, including correspondence, addressing the merits of a motion are not permitted and will not be considered.
Source page 1Filing and working copies
III. For All Emergency Applications: a party seeking emergency relief must first contact the Court for scheduling the application, the order presented for signature, and what requirements apply for the Court to be fully informed and in a position to both review the submission and sign any order.
Source page 2Filing and working copies
All orders must be filed on NYSCEF within seven (7) days by the prevailing party for signature by the Judge, together with verification that the order has been served upon all opposing counsel (or pro se litigants), and that no objection has been received within three (3) business days of service. Only orders that have been approved by all attorneys of record (or pro se litigants), with notice of such approval to the Court, should be filed on NYSCEF.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
In the event counsel cannot reach an agreement on the language of an order, counsel must first order a copy of the transcript of the proceedings, then contact chambers to schedule a conference to settle the order. The transcript must then be emailed to Shayna Gorski sgorski@nycourts.gov in advance of the conference.
Source page 2Motion practice
Pursuant to 22 NYCRR 202.7, counsel for the moving party must affirm they have conferred with counsel for the opposing party in a good faith effort to resolve the issues raised in the motion. Additionally, the moving party seeking discovery must document at least two (2) written good faith efforts made with opposing counsel prior to the filing of such motions.
Source page 2Adjournments
Adjournments are granted with consent of opposing counsel. However, if counsel refuses, please note the Court has a liberal adjournment policy, and motions made within the minimum time limits of the CPLR may be adjourned upon request, even if opposed. Adjournment requests should be made by email to Patty Hanavan phanavan@nycourts.gov and Shayna Gorski sgorski@nycourts.gov. Do not electronically file requests for adjournments on NYSCEF.
Source page 2Adjournments
The Court adheres strictly to its trial calendar. Trial dates will be designated only when the Note of Issue and Certificate of Readiness is filed, after which the Court will issue a trial scheduling order. Hearings and trials may be adjourned by the Judge only, and only by a showing of compelling circumstances during a pretrial conference convened to address that specific issue. All trials and hearings will be held in person.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
The Court encourages litigants to consider alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to settle their cases and will refer cases to the 8th Judicial District’s ADR program in instances where there is joint interest between the parties. Please note that the first appearance with the 8th Judicial District’s ADR program is a mandatory in-person appearance. Cases that do not settle within ninety (90) days of their referral to ADR shall be returned to chambers for further proceedings. The Court reserves the right to deny requests for ADR in cases where it deems the parties are not ready to proceed in good faith negotiations.
Source page 3Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Erie 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
Erie 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
Erie 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
Erie 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 July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster ↗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 ↗Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction ↗