--- title: "Orelia Eleta Merchant | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/orelia-eleta-merchant" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-08" --- # Orelia Eleta Merchant 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 - American federal judge serving on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2023 - Chief deputy attorney general for state counsel, State of New York, 2019-2023 - Assistant U.S. attorney, Eastern District of New York, 2002-2019 - Special assistant U.S. attorney, Eastern District of Louisiana, 2000-2001 ### Education - Tulane University Law School — J.D. (1998) - College of William and Mary — M.A. (1995) - Dillard University — B.S. (1992) ### Additional information - Civil Division, 2002-2016; executive assistant U.S. attorney, 2016-2019 - She was awarded a Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an AUSA – Civil in 2016 - Assistant regional counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago, Illinois, 1998-2000, 2001-2002 - Date of birth: 1971 - Merchant’s legal career spans environmental law, civil litigation, and state-level prosecution and defense. - In her state role, she oversaw litigation involving New York agencies and officials, managing 8,000 active cases and 450 employees - Birth place: The Bronx ## 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 ### technology walkthrough Scope: judge specific Judge Merchant requires parties who will present marked exhibits digitally to meet with court technology staff and the Courtroom Deputy at least 20 days before trial, then file written ECF confirmation. 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 meet with the Chief Deputy Clerk for Automation Services and Tasheana Lubin at least 20 days prior to the commencement of the trial to review the available equipment for the presentation of digital evidence. ... Following such meeting, such party shall file a confirmation in writing via ECF that this meeting has occurred. [Judge Orelia E. Merchant Individual Practices and Rules](https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/pub/rules/OEM-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/13620521) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13620521) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13620521) - [Judge Orelia E. Merchant Individual Practices and Rules](https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/pub/rules/OEM-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 Orelia Eleta Merchant](https://www.fjc.gov/node/13620521) - [Wikidata: Orelia Merchant](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113681633) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/orelia-eleta-merchant", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/orelia-eleta-merchant", "name": "Orelia Eleta Merchant | KnowJudges", "description": "Orelia Eleta Merchant, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. 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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.