--- title: "Maura A. Kennedy Smith | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maura-a-kennedy-smith" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Maura A. Kennedy Smith Tompkins County Supreme Court · Supreme Court Justice ## Profile - Court: Tompkins County Supreme Court - State: New York - Role: Supreme Court Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge Tompkins County Court Multi-Bench: County, Family, Surrogate's, Elected, 2025 to 2035 - In January 2024, Kennedy‐Smith announced she would run for Tompkins County Court Judge following the resignation of longtime judge John C. Rowley - Justice Lansing Town Court Elected 2019 to 2024 - NYS Unified Court System, Principal Court Attorney, 2014 to 2024 - Lansing Town Justice (elected 2018) - Shapiro & Kennedy-Smith, Ithaca, New York Partner 2006 to 2013 - Center for Disability Advocacy Rights, Inc., (CeDAR), New York, New York Staff Attorney/Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel NAPIL Fellow 1998 to 2002 - Principal Court Attorney for County Judge Joseph R. Cassidy - Running on the Democratic Party line and is the second woman in Tompkins County history to hold the county judge position ### Education - New York University School of Law — J.D. (1998) - Cornell University — B.A. (1993) ### Additional information - Maura A. Kennedy‐Smith has over 25 years of legal experience, admitted to the New York State Office of Court Administration since 1999. - Tompkins/Tioga Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc., (LAWNY), Ithaca, New York Staff Attorney 2000 to 2006 - She is a Cornell University alumna - She has also been recognized for her legal knowledge and fairness in public service, with community members emphasizing the importance of a judge’s legal background for equitable outcomes ## 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 ### trial exhibit books Scope: statewide In New York Supreme Court and County Court civil cases, the court may require indexed trial exhibit binders, notebooks, or electronic equivalents for the court, counsel, and witnesses. Evidence excerpt: The court may direct that on the first day of trial or at such other time as the court may set, counsel shall submit an indexed binder or notebook, or the electronic equivalent, of trial exhibits for the court's use. [Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### exhibit marking Scope: statewide Civil trial counsel in New York Supreme Court and County Court must confer before trial and attempt to agree on exhibits to be offered without objection, unless the court directs otherwise. Evidence excerpt: Counsel for the parties shall consult prior to trial and shall in good faith attempt to agree upon the exhibits that will be offered into evidence without objection. [Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### virtual evidence courtroom Scope: statewide For Commercial Division matters, New York rules encourage Virtual Evidence Courtrooms for managing and presenting trial evidence after authorization by request or court direction. Evidence excerpt: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms (VECs) may be used to facilitate real-time access to trial exhibits and other relevant documents. [Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### electronic appearances Scope: statewide For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements. Evidence excerpt: For all hybrid proceedings, all electronic appearances shall be projected in the physical courtroom in which the in-person portion of the proceeding is taking place in such a manner as to provide a reasonable opportunity for members of the public to view and hear the participants appearing electronically. [Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=hAvX_PLUS_LQO9FU2Vk2kpwqvlw%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=hAvX_PLUS_LQO9FU2Vk2kpwqvlw%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=hAvX_PLUS_LQO9FU2Vk2kpwqvlw%3D%3D) - [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) - [Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court) - [Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court) - [Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. Maura A. Kennedy-Smith](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=hAvX_PLUS_LQO9FU2Vk2kpwqvlw%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maura-a-kennedy-smith", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maura-a-kennedy-smith", "name": "Maura A. Kennedy Smith | KnowJudges", "description": "Maura A. Kennedy Smith, Tompkins County Supreme Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maura-a-kennedy-smith#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maura-a-kennedy-smith#judge", "name": "Maura A. Kennedy Smith", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maura-a-kennedy-smith", "jobTitle": "Supreme Court Justice", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Tompkins County Supreme Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=hAvX_PLUS_LQO9FU2Vk2kpwqvlw%3D%3D" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Cornell University" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "New York University School of Law" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "New York", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/new-york" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Maura A. Kennedy Smith", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maura-a-kennedy-smith" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.