Naita A. Semaj at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice, Bronx County Civil Term, General IAS Part 27
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2035
Naita A. Semaj
Supreme Court Justice, Bronx County Civil Term, General IAS Part 27 · Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Term
Public docket analytics load when this section is opened.
Biography
Professional career
- Democratic Party judge of the New York Supreme Court, 12th Judicial District (Bronx County), elected in November 2021 for a term running through December 31, 2035
- Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, Bronx County, Elected, 2019 to 2029
- NYS Unified Court System, Principal Court Attorney, 2010 to 2018
Education
- St. John's University School of Law — J.D. (2005)
- Lehman College, City University of New York — B.A. (2000)
Additional information
- In July 2025, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct censured Semaj for unjustifiably ejecting three assistant district attorneys from her courtroom and for impatient, discourteous, and sarcastic conduct toward prosecutors over a 13‐month period.
- She assumed office on January 1, 2022 after winning a competitive general election
- Semaj previously served in the New York City Civil Court, Bronx County from 2019 to 2021.
- Administration for Children's Services, Agency Attorney, 2005 to 2009
- She is the daughter of Dr. Leahcim Semaj, a Jamaican physician, and grew up in Jamaica before returning to New York for college and law school.
- She also held the role of a Court Attorney, arbitrator in Small Claims Court, and community board member
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Powerpoint And Innovative Presentations
Courtwide
In a Bronx County Summary Jury Trial, counsel may use innovative jury presentations, including medical records, reports, and PowerPoint.
Counsel are encouraged to use innovative methods of presentation to the jury, including medical records, reports, PowerPoint presentationsBronx County Summary Jury Trial Rules ↗
Exhibits
Courtwide
Evidence or trial notebooks intended for the jury in a Bronx County Summary Jury Trial must be exchanged 30 days before trial or the material may be precluded.
Any evidence or trial notebook intended for the jury must be exchanged thirty (30) days prior to trial or may be precludedBronx County Summary Jury Trial Rules ↗
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
Courtwide
Live or prerecorded video testimony is permitted in a Bronx County Summary Jury Trial.
Video taped testimony, live or pre-recorded, is permittedBronx County Summary Jury Trial Rules ↗
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 ↗
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (8 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Conferences and appearances
The Foreclosure Settlement Conference Part (“FSCP”) and its implementing rules support active settlement negotiations. After the third settlement conference, the Referee shall update the Court as to progress of the case and next steps as agreed amongst the parties. The parties are encouraged to contribute to the Referee’s update to ensure that it is detailed and informative as possible. Upon receipt of the Referee’s update, the court shall decide whether the case will stay in the FSCP or be released for further proceedings. Regardless of the court’s decision, the parties may write to the court at any time, via email to bxforeclosureconferences@nycourts.gov, to request that the court reconsider its decision to release the case or for additional conferencing. Requests must include both sides and will be granted/denied based on a review of all information made available to the Court.
Source page 1Conferences and appearances
Once the case is released, the parties are encouraged to continue negotiating potential settlement alternatives but must be prepared to litigate the action in accordance with the law.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
The Court actively encourages parties to settle foreclosure actions at all phases of proceedings, and with this in mind, status conferences can be requested at any stage after release from the FSCP. Any request for a status conference shall be made via email to Raina Taylor at Rataylor@nycourts.gov. The email must include two proposed dates for said conference. No ex-parte or telephone requests for conferences will be entertained. The
Source page 1Conferences and appearances
All persons, attorneys, and pro se litigants who appear for a conference, be it status, pre-trial, or otherwise, must be fully familiar with the facts, the procedural history, and present status of the case. If a client does not attend the conference, the attorney must have a working phone number for their client and ensure their client has settlement authority and is available to answer any case-related questions that may arise during the conference.
Source page 2Motion practice
The parties are discouraged from filing dispositive motions while the case is in the FSCP, and any such motions will be held in abeyance until the case is released. Thereafter, such motions will be decided within 30 days. Any request to continue to hold a fully submitted motion in abeyance after release shall be promptly made in writing and upon notice via NYSCEF indicating the specific reasons for the request. Any request will only be granted for up to 90 days, after which, the motion will be decided absent a specific and updated written request to extend for an additional 90 days.
Source page 2Motion practice
All motions will be decided on submission unless oral arguments are requested. Any request for oral argument shall include both parties and be made via email to Raina Taylor at rataylor@nycourts.gov.
Source page 2Adjournments
All motions, to the extent possible, shall include a proposed order for the courts review. Any stipulation to adjourn a motion must be filed through NYSCEF in advance of the submission date and shall include the reason for the adjournment.
Source page 2Adjournments
With respect to dispositions and discontinuances, parties shall promptly file a Notice or Stipulation of Discontinuance and Cancellation of Pendency with a courtesy copy to bxforeclosureconferences@nycourts.gov.
Source page 2Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court
Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Term
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
Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Term
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
Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Term
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 28, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Bronx County Supreme Court Civil Term Part Rules, General IAS Part 27
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 28, 2026
View Bronx County Supreme Court Civil Term Part Rules, General IAS Part 27 ↗Bronx County Summary Jury Trial Rules
Courtwide source · HTML · Source checked July 28, 2026
View Bronx County Summary Jury Trial Rules ↗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 ↗