Laura Alice Ward at a glance
- Current role
- Acting Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Laura Alice Ward
Acting Justice · New York County Supreme Court
Biography
Professional career
- Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, New York County, New York, NY, 2003-present
- 2003–present: Acting Justice, New York County Supreme Court (Criminal Term), appointed by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman
- Laura A. Ward is an Acting Justice of the New York County Supreme Court (Criminal Term) in New York’s First Judicial District, with a career spanning law practice, federal and state prosecutorial roles, and judicial service since 1997
- Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, New York County, New York, NY, 2000-2003
- Acting Justice, New York County Supreme Court, designated 2000
- Judge, The Criminal Court of the City of New York, New York, New York, NY, 1997-2000
- 1997–2000: Judge, Criminal Court of the City of New York (appointed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani)
- Judge, New York City Criminal Court, appointed 1997 by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
- Adjunct professor, Fordham Law School, 1995-1997
- Assistant United States Attorney, Eastern District United States Attorney's Office, NY, 1989-1997
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of New York, 1989-1997
- Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Investor Protection and Securities Bureau, New York State Attorney General's Office, NY, 1988-1989
- In 1988, she joined the New York State Office of the Attorney General as an assistant attorney general in charge of the Investor Protection and Securities Bureau
- Special Attorney, Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering Section, Brooklyn Strike Force, United States Department of Justice, NY, 1983-1988
- Special Attorney / Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering Section, Brooklyn Strike Force, 1983-1988
- After law school, Ward began as a litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom from 1978 to 1983.
- The following year, she became an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, a role she held until her judicial appointment
- Three years later, she was designated to the New York County Supreme Court by Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman
- In addition to her judicial duties, Ward has taught as an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law
Education
- Fordham University School of Law — J.D. (1978)
- Vassar College — B.A. (1975)
Additional information
- Most recently certificated for a term beginning 2025 and ending 2030.
- Initially appointed to the Criminal Court of the City of New York in New York County by Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 1997.
- adj-prof, Fordham University, NY, 1995-1997
- Practitioner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, 1978-1983
- Research Assistant, Fordham University, New York, NY, 1977-1978
- Judge Laura A. Ward presides over criminal cases in the Supreme Court of New York County, having served on the bench for 7 years.
- Her academic background laid the foundation for a distinguished career in both public service and private practice
- She has also held the role of vice president of the Criminal Court Judges Association and chaired the Anti-Bias Committee of the Criminal Court of New York
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
New York 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
New York County Supreme Court
Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27New York County Supreme Court, Civil Branch — Rules of the Justices
New York County Supreme Court
Civil Branch proceedings in New York County Supreme Court only; not criminal proceedings. Preserve source version and check later judge/part instructions.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
New York 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
New York 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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
New York Supreme Court, New York County current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View New York Supreme Court, New York County current judicial profile ↗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 ↗Service record and verification
- New York County Supreme Court · Acting Justice · Current · 2003-01-01–present
- New York County Supreme Court · Supreme Court Justice · Current · present
- New York County Supreme Court · Supreme Court Justice · Historical or current service unconfirmed · 2025