--- title: "Martha L. Luft | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martha-l-luft-14882" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Martha L. Luft Suffolk County Supreme Court · Acting Justice ## Profile - Court: Suffolk County Supreme Court - State: New York - Role: Acting Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Current Role — As of 2017, she is an Associate Judge at Mulvehill & O’Brien and continues to serve in judicial capacities in Suffolk County - Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County, NY, 2016-present - Judge, New York Family Court, NY, 2017-2026 - Acting Justice, Suffolk County Supreme Court — Served in this role from 2010 to 2015, and again from 2016 onward - Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County, NY, 2010-2015 - Judge, New York Family Court, NY, 2006-2015 - Suffolk County Family Court Judge — Elected in 2006, served until 2015 - Partner, Twomey, Latham, Shea & Kelly, LLP, ?-present - att-gen-ass, NY State Attorney General, NY, ?-present - Associate Judge, Mulvehill & O'Brien, ?-present - Before entering the judiciary, Luft worked as a partner at Twomey, Latham, Shea & Kelly, LLP and held the role of Assistant Attorney General for New York ### Education - Stanford University — J.D. (1983) - Philosophy — Columbia University in the City of New York — 1977 - Columbia University in the City of New York — M.A. (1976) - Stony Brook University — B.A. (1974) - Martha Levy Luft earned her B.A. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and her J.D. from Stanford University Law School. ### Additional information - In 2015, Luft sought re-election to the Family Court but was defeated in the general election. - Law firm of Twomey, Latham, Shea & Kelly, LLP prior to joining the family court in 2006. - She was admitted to the New York State bar in 1984 and later to the U.S. District Court (Eastern District of New York) in 1988 and the U.S. Court of Appeals (Second Circuit) in 1993 - She also holds master’s degrees from Columbia University. - She has cited her experience as a mother and grandmother in guiding her judicial decisions, emphasizing patience, communication, and the ability to deliver “tough love” with understanding - She later returned to judicial service in other capacities - New York State judge with a long career in Suffolk County Family Court and the Suffolk County Supreme Court, known for her balanced approach combining compassion with firmness in family law cases - On, Luft holds AV Preeminent® peer recognition for her legal knowledge, communication skills, and ethical standards, along with other honors such as Avvo’s Top Contributor and Client’s Choice awards ## 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 ### 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/14882/martha-l-luft/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14882/martha-l-luft/) - [New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14882/martha-l-luft/) - [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/14882/martha-l-luft/) - [Martha L. Luft - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Martha_L._Luft) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martha-l-luft-14882", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martha-l-luft-14882", "name": "Martha L. Luft | KnowJudges", "description": "Martha L. Luft, Suffolk County Supreme Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martha-l-luft-14882#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martha-l-luft-14882#judge", "name": "Martha L. 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Luft", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martha-l-luft-14882" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-5e0f997e8c334d15fbc4) — State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction). Collected 2026-10-27. - [22 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-bf1c7eb9020e52eed65d) — Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court). 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.