Mary H. Smith at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Mary H. Smith
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, New York Supreme Court, Onondaga County, Syracuse, NY, 2017-2027
- Justice, Supreme Court (Certificated), Ninth Judicial District, 2016 to 2017
- President, Shareholder, Attorney, Cramer Smith & Miller, P.C., 1999-2017
- Current court assignment: Supreme Court Justice - 9th Judicial District
Education
- She was licensed to practice law in New York in 1978 after earning her J.D. from Hofstra University’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law in 1977, and a B.S. from Simmons College in 1967
Additional information
- While celebrated for her service, she also was awarded a censure from the New York Judicial Commission in 1999 for engaging in improper ex parte communications with a defendant in a criminal case, which the Commission found compromised the parties’ rights and created an appearance of bias
- Distinguished New York State judge and public servant, best known for her service on the Rockland County Supreme Court in the 9th Judicial District and earlier on the Westchester County Court and Yonkers City Court
- Northern Westchester Hospital Center, in which the New York Appellate Division found that Justice Smith’s conduct — including excessive intervention and comments to the jury — deprived the plaintiff of a fair trial, leading to a new trial order
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
Supreme Court Justice - 9th Judicial District
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
Supreme Court Justice - 9th Judicial District
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
Supreme Court Justice - 9th Judicial District
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
Supreme Court Justice - 9th Judicial District
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 ↗