--- title: "Karen K. Peters | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-k-peters-7919" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Karen K. Peters Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York · Judge ## Profile - Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York - 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 - Judge, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, 1994-present - American jurist best known as the first woman to serve as Presiding Justice of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, a role she held from April 5, 2012, until her retirement at the end of 2017 - In 1994, Governor Mario Cuomo appointed her to the Appellate Division, Third Department, and in 2012, Governor Andrew Cuomo named her Presiding Justice — a historic first for a woman in that role - She was then elected Supreme Court Justice in the Third Judicial Department in 1992, re-elected in 2006 - In 1983, Peters was elected Family Court Judge in Ulster County, serving until 1992. ### Education - B.A. from George Washington University in 1969 and her J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1972, graduating cum laude and in the Order of the Coif - George Washington University (cum laude) — B.S. ### Additional information - From 1979 to 1983, she was counsel for the New York State Division of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, later becoming director of the State Assembly Government Operations Committee - Born July 29, 1947. - Date of birth: 1947-07-29 - Began in private practice in New Paltz, NY - focusing on criminal defense and matrimonial law, then served briefly as Assistant District Attorney in Dutchess County. - Presiding Justice Karen Peters Sums Up 34-Year Career Font Size Karen K. Peters Presiding Justice Karen Peters of the Appellate Division, Third Department, was a young lawyer in private practice when she appeared before an old male judge in Dutchess County. - New York State Bar Association committees on Judicial Wellness, Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Judicial Discipline, and Access to Justice ## 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/7919/karen-k-peters/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7919/karen-k-peters/) - [Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7919/karen-k-peters/) - [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/7919/karen-k-peters/) - [Karen K. Peters - Historical Society of the New York Courts](https://history.nycourts.gov/biography/karen-k-peters) - [Presiding Justice Karen Peters Sums Up 34-Year Career](https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2017/12/14/presiding-justice-karen-peters-sums-up-34-year-career) - [Wikidata: Karen K. Peters](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55081137) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-k-peters-7919", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-k-peters-7919", "name": "Karen K. Peters | KnowJudges", "description": "Karen K. Peters, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. 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/karen-k-peters-7919#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-k-peters-7919#judge", "name": "Karen K. Peters", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-k-peters-7919", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/7919/karen-k-peters/" ], "birthDate": "1947-07-29", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "George Washington University (cum laude)" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "George Washington University" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "New York University (cum laude, Order of the Coif)" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "New York", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/new-york" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karen K. Peters", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-k-peters-7919" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Practice Rules of the Appellate Division — 22 NYCRR Part 1250](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-f25158f78380e6ddc10f) — Appellate Division matters only; not Appellate Terms or the Court of Appeals. Preserve the applicable department rules. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/AD1/Practice&Procedures/rules.shtml). 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.