--- title: "Matthew F. Cooper | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-f-cooper-14660" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Matthew F. Cooper New York Supreme Court · Justice ## Profile - Court: New York Supreme Court - State: New York - Role: Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Justice, New York Supreme Court, NY, 2018-present - Justice, New York Supreme Court, New York County, NY, 2011-2024 - New York State Supreme Court Justice (2010–2021): Presided over a dedicated matrimonial part - Retired Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, best known for presiding over matrimonial and family law cases from 2001 until his retirement in 2021. - Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, New York County, NY, 2008-2010 - Acting Supreme Court Justice (2008–2010): Appointed before his election to the Supreme Court - Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 2001-2010 - Civil Court Judge (2001–2010): Initially assigned to Criminal Court, later returned to civil matters - While serving in this capacity, he became an acting justice of the Supreme Court in 2008 - Then elected judge of the New York City Civil Court in 2001 - Matthew Cooper was a judge of the New York Supreme Court 1st Judicial District (Assigned) - Appellate Term Justice (First Department): Heard appeals from Civil, Housing, and Criminal Courts ### Education - Antioch University-System Administration — J.D. (1979) - Antioch School of Law in — J.D. (1979) - Hobart College in — B.A. (1974) ### Additional information - Since retiring in 2021, Cooper has served as a mediator and private judge - adj-prof, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, New York, NY, 1999-2000 - Director, Teamsters Local 237 Legal Services, NY, 1988-2000 - Worked in this position from 1980 to 1988, when he became the Director of Legal Services for the Teamsters Local 237. - Supervising Attorney/ Staff Attorney, District Council 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services Plan, NY, 1980-1988 - VISTA Volunteer, Bronx Legal Services, New York, NY, 1974-1976 - Cooper began his career in 1974 as a VISTA volunteer for Bronx Legal Services. - cum laude — Hobart William Smith Colleges — 1974 - Following law school, he became a supervising/staff attorney for the District Council 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services Plan. - New York County Supreme Court, the Appellate Term, and previously on the New York City Civil and Criminal Courts - handling more than 4,000 contested divorces, including high‐profile cases - focusing on divorce and family law dispute resolution outside the traditional court system - Long‐serving New York judge whose judicial career spanned more than two decades, with a strong focus on divorce, custody, and family‐related matters. - Widely recognized for his extensive matrimonial caseload and his contributions to family law jurisprudence ## 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/14660/matthew-f-cooper/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14660/matthew-f-cooper/) - [New York Supreme Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14660/matthew-f-cooper/) - [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/14660/matthew-f-cooper/) - [Matthew Cooper - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matthew_Cooper) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-f-cooper-14660", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/matthew-f-cooper-14660", "name": "Matthew F. 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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.