Lynn Wessel Keane at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Lynn Wessel Keane
Justice · New York Supreme Court
Biography
Professional career
- Appellate Division, 4th Department Justice (2024–present)
- Erie County Supreme Court Justice, 8th Judicial District (2017–present)
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, Erie County, Buffalo, NY, 2017-2032
- Also a Justice of the Erie County Supreme Court, 8th Judicial District, elected in 2017, with her term ending in 2031
- Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul on December 22, 2023
- Judge, New York Town and Village Justice Courts, Orchard Park Town, Orchard Park, NY, 2012-2017
- Town Justice, Orchard Park Town Court (2012–2017)
- Law Clerk, NYS Unified Court System, NY, 2009-2017
- Assistant District Attorney, Erie County District Attorneys Office, NY, 1994-2000
- Her career spans public prosecution, private practice, local judicial service, and appellate law
Education
- JD — University at Buffalo — 1993
- Boston College — B.A. (1990)
Additional information
- Began her tenure in this role on January 4, 2024, with a term ending December 31, 2032
- Practitioner, Solo Practitioner, 2000-2009
- Current court assignment: Supreme Court
- She has also served in leadership roles in the Supreme Court Justice Association, 8th Judicial District
- Keane is a member of the Bar Association of Erie County, Women’s Bar Association of New York State, New York State Magistrates Association, and Erie County Magistrates Association.
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
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
Preliminary conferences will be scheduled in person within 45 days of the Court’s receipt of a filed RJI, as required by 22 NYCRR §202.12(b). The first preliminary conference will be scheduled with Judge Keane or Law Clerk. Pleadings and a brief summary of the case in letter form are required in advance of the initial conference. The brief summary must be emailed to hpark@nycourts.gov one week prior to the conference. Prior to the conference, the parties are expected to comply with 202.70(g) Rule 8.
Source page 1Adjournments
Adjournments may be granted with the consent of all parties, subject to the Court’s approval by contacting the Court’s Secretary.
Source page 1Motion practice
Motions: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. on submission, unless counsel request oral argument or directed by the Court.
Source page 1Motion practice
Motions should be uploaded to NYSCEF, the Court Clerk will contact the party.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Statements of material facts pursuant to 22 NYCRR §202.8-g are not required. If a statement of material facts is filed, the opposing party need not respond, and such statements will not be deemed admitted. Counsel shall provide chambers with hard copies of notices of motion, affidavits, and memoranda of law. Hard copies of e-filed exhibits are not necessary, but parties may provide a hard copy of a critical exhibit or excerpt of an exhibit. Do not send any motion papers by fax. Binding of papers is discouraged.
Source page 1Adjournments
All submissions, including replies, must be received by the Court no later than the Friday prior to the return date. Motions may be adjourned by the Court if any papers are filed after the Friday prior to the return date.
Source page 2Motion practice
Please contact the Court Clerk for exact dates and times prior to scheduling motions. Allow one hour for motions, especially on newly filed cases. Orders to show cause are not required where the motion is served upon at least 8 days’ notice, as set forth in CPLR §2214.
Source page 2Motion practice
Please note that temporary injunctive relief will not be granted in the absence of prior notice to the opposing counsel or party, as required by 22 NYCRR § 202.7(f), unless the moving party can demonstrate significant prejudice from providing such notice. Live (MS Teams) testimony of the moving party may be required prior to signing an order to show cause containing temporary injunctive relief. Orders to Show Cause/TROs on a case assigned to another judge will be signed only upon prior written approval of IAS judge or his/her law clerk.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
Motions to resolve discovery disputes shall be accompanied by an affidavit of good faith attempt at resolution. Letters between counsel are insufficient. The Court is available to assist parties in resolving discovery issues, without resorting to motion practice, by scheduling an informal “Discovery Oversight Conference” (DOC). Counsel should communicate with opposing counsel to select a mutually agreeable date and time to meet in Part 13 and then schedule a conference through Chambers.
Source page 2Motion practice
Orders are to be submitted within 30 days by the party who brought the motion. All orders and other papers for signature (except Orders To Show Cause) must first be circulated to opposing counsel or pro se party for comment and approval. Orders and judgments will not be signed without proof that opposing counsel or the pro se party had the opportunity to review them for at least 7 days. Proof of opposing counsel’s consent by letter or email is preferred. If there is no objection or consent received after ten days, the Court will sign the order.
Source page 2Motion practice
Motions in Limine will be held one week before jury selection. Expert disclosure is to be made at least 30 days prior to the commencement of trial, unless ordered otherwise by the court. Requests to charge, proposed verdict sheets, witness lists, pre- marked exhibits and pleadings are to be submitted two weeks prior to jury selection (in Word format).
Source page 2Filing and working copies
Exhibits for trial should be marked by the court reporter prior to openings. Counsel shall, if practical, supply a courtesy copy of each exhibit to opposing counsel and the court. For lengthy exhibits, only the relevant pages need be copied. The parties
Source page 2Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
New York 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 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
New York 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 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 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 ↗