Michael J. Norris at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2038
Michael J. Norris
Supreme Court Justice · Niagara County Supreme Court
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Biography
Professional career
- Justice State Supreme Court, 8th Judicial District Elected 2025 to 2038
- Justice of the New York State Supreme Court for the 8th Judicial District, elected in 2024 after serving as a New York State Assemblyman from 2017 to 2024
- Seaman Norris LLP Partner 2013 to 2024
- Seaman, Jones, Hogan & Brooks LLP Associate 2006 to 2013
Education
- Albany Law School — J.D. (2005)
- Political Science Niagara University — B.A. (1998)
Additional information
- As of 2026, Norris is listed in Niagara County court records and is associated with the court’s Part 3 AI rules, which require attorneys to review AI-generated legal filings for accuracy and to certify no fabricated or fictitious content.
- New York State Assembly Member - 144th District 2017 to 2024
- From 2017 to 2024, Norris was the Republican Assembly member for the 144th District, covering parts of Erie, Niagara, and Orleans counties.
- Town of Lockport Town Attorney 2013 to 2016
- Supporters cited his legal experience, government service, and knowledge of election law as qualifications for the bench
- Reports note that Norris had prior “immunity deals” with prosecutors in past investigations, but local Republican leaders said these issues were resolved and did not disqualify him.
- He served on multiple committees, including Judiciary, Election Law, and Transportation
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 ↗
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.
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 ↗
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.
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 ↗
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
Statewide
For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (14 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Communications with chambers
Correspondence to the Court shall be sent to the Court’s Secretary either as an attachment to an email or mailed as a hard copy. Any correspondence filed on NYSCEF shall be sent separately as directed above to the Court.
Source page 1Filing and working copies
Application for Orders of Protection shall be directed to the Court Clerk and include police and/or medical reports, if available. The Protective Registry Information Sheet should also be filed with the application. If an individual is in imminent danger, please call 911.
Source page 1Motion practice
Prior to filing an Order to Show Cause, counsel shall contact the Court’s Law Clerk. An Order to Show Cause will only be granted when there is a genuine urgency, a stay is required, or an Order to Show Cause is required by law.
Source page 1Artificial intelligence
argument (see, e.g., 22 NYCRR 130- 1.1, 130-1.1a), and an attorney who submits any paper to this court is additionally bound by the Rules of Professional Conduct. Accordingly, any attorney or party who uses an artificial intelligence tool, as defined in 22 NYCRR 161.2(a), in preparing any paper, as defined in 22 NYCRR 161.2(b), filed in or submitted to this court or served on another party in a case before this court is required to carefully review the paper and independently ensure that it contains no fabricated or fictitious cases, statutes, or other material. By signing such paper, an attorney or party certifies that such a review has been conducted and that the paper contains no such fabricated or fictitious content. If this court determines that this requirement has not been satisfied, such attorney or party may be subject to sanction or other remedial action.
Source page 2Adjournments
Special Term is generally scheduled for the Second and Fourth Wednesday of each month. All motion, opposition and reply submissions are to be e-filed on New York State Courts Electronic Filing system (NYSCEF). All submission deadlines shall comply with CPLR 2214(b). At the Court's discretion, late submissions may result in an adjournment of the motion or rejection of the untimely submission. Requests for oral argument will be granted in the discretion of the Court.
Source page 2Motion practice
All oral arguments will be in-person unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Source page 2Motion practice
If not placed on the Special term calendar as set forth above, matrimonial motions will be scheduled by the Court Clerk to be heard on available Thursdays or in conjunction with a conference. All motion, opposition and reply submissions are to be e-filed on New York State Courts Electronic Filing system (NYSCEF). All submissions shall comply with CPLR 2214(b).
Source page 2Adjournments
At the Court's discretion, late submissions may result in an adjournment of the motion or rejection of the untimely submission. Requests for oral argument will be granted in the discretion of the Court. All oral arguments for matrimonial motions will be in person unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Source page 2Adjournments
Adjournments will be granted by the Court Clerk on consent of all parties, subject to the Court’s approval. To request an adjournment, counsel must email the Court Clerk, Law Clerk, and all other counsel. If granted, the motion will be immediately rescheduled.
Source page 2Adjournments
A preliminary conference will be held virtually through Microsoft Teams (TEAMS) unless otherwise directed by the Court within 45 days of the Court’s receipt of a filed RJI. Status conferences will be scheduled either virtually through TEAMS or in person as directed by the Court. All conferences will be with the Judge or Law Clerk. To request an adjournment, counsel shall confer with opposing counsel and select mutually agreeable dates to propose to the Court for the rescheduled conference. If an adjournment is granted, a new conference date will be scheduled immediately.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
Pursuant to 22 NYCRR 202.12(b), the Court will schedule a Preliminary Conference within forty-five (45) days of the filing of an RJI, typically the first or Third Monday of each month. Parties must be present through TEAMS at the preliminary conference unless otherwise directed by the Court. At least ten (10) days prior to the Preliminary Conference, the parties
Source page 3Adjournments
The Court will address temporary support and the automatic stays at the preliminary conference and counsel should be prepared to discuss said issues of a temporary nature. Status conferences will be heard virtually through TEAMS unless otherwise directed by the Court. Adjournments will be granted with consent of the parties, subject to the Court’s approval by contacting the Secretary or Law Clerk. If custody and access are at issue, the Court will appoint an Attorney for the Child(ren) (AFC).
Source page 3Discovery
Trials will be scheduled after a Note of Issue is filed. The Court will issue a Trial Scheduling Order at an in-person pre-trial conference immediately following the filing of the Note of Issue. The Trial Scheduling order shall be strictly adhered to, including expert disclosure deadlines.
Source page 4Adjournments
Adjournments of trials are granted by the Judge only and require a showing of compelling circumstances. Marked pleadings and papers for motions in limine shall be submitted one week prior to jury selection. Formal requests to charge and proposed verdict sheets shall be submitted one week prior to jury selection to the Law Clerk. The charge conference will be held following the completion of proof, unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Source page 4Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Niagara County 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
Niagara County 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
Niagara County 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
Niagara County 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 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster ↗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 ↗Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction ↗