--- title: "Natasha Clarise Merle | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/natasha-clarise-merle" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-08" --- # Natasha Clarise Merle U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York - State: New York - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile. ## Biography ### Professional career - Natasha Clarise Merle is a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, appointed by President Joseph R. Biden in 2023 and confirmed by the Senate in a 50–49 vote - NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, New York City, 2016-2023; fellow, 2016-2018; assistant counsel, 2018; senior counsel, 2018-2021; deputy director of litigation, 2021-2023 - Adjunct professor of clinical law, New York University School of Law, 2019-2020 - Private practice and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Fellow, New York City, 2013-2015 - Law clerk, Hon. John Gleeson, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 2012-2013 - Assistant federal public defender, Capital Habeas Unit, District of Arizona, 2011-2012 - Staff attorney & Equal Justice Works Fellow, Gulf Region Advocacy Center, Houston, TX (2009–2011) - Staff attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow, Gulf Region Advocacy Center, Houston, Texas, 2009-2011 - Law clerk, Hon. Robert L. Carter, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 2008-2009 - Current position: Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ### Education - New York University School of Law — J.D. (2008) - B.A — University of Texas at Austin — 2005 ### Additional information - Lecturer in law, Columbia Law School, 2020-2021 - African American attorney and judge - Her confirmation vote was one of the closest in recent history, reflecting bipartisan attention to her appointment ## 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 ### digital evidence Scope: judge specific Judge Merle directs parties using the Court's digital-evidence equipment to arrange an equipment review with the Courtroom Deputy at least one week before trial. Evidence excerpt: Any party wishing to present marked exhibits to the jury in digital form who has not previously used the Court's electronic equipment is directed to schedule a meeting with Courtroom Deputy Alicia Guy at least one (1) week prior to the commencement of the trial to review the available equipment for the presentation of digital evidence. [Individual Practice Rules of Judge Natasha C. Merle](https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/pub/rules/NCM-MLR.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### civil remote testimony Scope: courtwide In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards. Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location. [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### criminal recording and broadcasting Scope: courtwide Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception. Evidence excerpt: Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom. [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13720111) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13720111) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13720111) - [Individual Practice Rules of Judge Natasha C. Merle](https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/pub/rules/NCM-MLR.pdf) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) - [Judge Natasha Clarise Merle](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13720111) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/natasha-clarise-merle", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/natasha-clarise-merle", "name": "Natasha Clarise Merle | KnowJudges", "description": "Natasha Clarise Merle, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-08", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/natasha-clarise-merle#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/natasha-clarise-merle#judge", "name": "Natasha Clarise Merle", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/natasha-clarise-merle", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.fjc.gov/node/13720111" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Texas" }, { "@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": "Natasha Clarise Merle", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/natasha-clarise-merle" } ] } ] } ``` ## Federal civil docket activity Dataset updated through 2026-06-30. | Period | Assigned cases | Terminated cases | Median disposition (months) | Median sample | | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | | 1y | 134 | 26 | 0.3 | 26 | | 2y | 466 | 217 | 2.3 | 217 | | 5y | 772 | 469 | 3.4 | 469 | | 10y | 772 | 469 | 3.4 | 469 | Source: https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/ ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [SDNY and EDNY — Joint Local Civil and Criminal Rules](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-201c11a4597834a9a953) — Federal district-court proceedings only. Civil and criminal sections have distinct scope and district-specific exceptions. Not Bankruptcy Court rules. [Official source](https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/local_rules/2026-01-02%20-%20EDNY%20and%20SDNY%20Joint%20Local%20Rules%20As%20Amended.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-651872d6e45e0d82319ecccc) — Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.