Paul Austin Crotty at a glance
- Current role
- Senior Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Paul Austin Crotty
Senior Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Judge · Senior · April 15, 2005–present · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Appointment method
- Presidential appointment with Senate confirmation
- Appointing authority
- George W. Bush
- Source authority
- Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory
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Biography
Professional career
- Judge, District Court, S.D. New York, 2005-present
- Law clerk, Hon. Lloyd F. MacMahon, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1967-1969
Education
- University of Notre Dame — B.A. (1962)
- Cornell Law School
Additional information
- commissioner, 1984-present
- Group president, Verizon Communications, New York and Connecticut region, 1997-2005
- Corporation counsel, New York City, 1994-1997
- Private practice, New York City, 1988-1993
- commissioner of housing preservation and development, 1986-1988
- Office of Financial Services, New York City, 1984-1988
- commissioner of finance, 1984-1986
- Private practice, New York City, 1969-1984
- U.S. Naval Reserve, 1962-1968
- Date of birth: 1941-01-01
- Birth place: Buffalo, NY
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (63 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
A. Letters Except as otherwise provided below, ALL communications with Chambers shall be by letter. Letters shall be filed on ECF in accordance with Section 13.1 of the ECF Rules & Procedures. A hard copy of any letter filed on ECF shall also be mailed to Chambers. Any letter to the Court must not exceed 3 pages in length. This does not include any exhibits that may be attached to a letter. All letters must comply with SDNY Local Rule
Source page 1Filing and working copies
“The typeface, margins, and spacing of all documents presented for filing must meet the following requirements: (1) all text must be 12-point type or larger, except for text in footnotes which may be 10-point type; (2) all documents must have at least one-inch margins on all sides;
Source page 1Communications with chambers
B. Telephone Calls Telephone calls to Chambers should be made only in emergency situations requiring immediate attention. In such situations only, call the Courtroom Deputy, Mr. David C. Gonzalez, at (212) 805-6312. Any voice messages should be brief, and provide the case caption/number and a brief description of the emergency (see Rule 1D for further information on contacting Mr. Gonzalez).
Source page 1Communications with chambers
C. Faxes See Rule 1A above. Faxes to Chambers are permitted (e-mail is preferred) only if copies are also simultaneously faxed or delivered to all counsel. No document longer than ten (10) pages may be faxed without prior authorization. Do not follow with a hard copy.
Source page 1Adjournments
E. Requests for Adjournments or Extensions of Time Letter requests for adjournments will not be granted unless counsel requesting the adjournment complies with this rule. All requests for adjournments or extensions of time must state (1) the original date(s), (2) the number of any previous requests for adjournment or extension, (3) whether these previous requests were granted or denied, (4) whether the adversary consents, and, if not, the reasons given by the adversary for refusing to consent, and (5) if the adversary consents, counsel shall confer amongst each other and propose three (3) alternate conference dates. If the requested adjournment or extension affects any other scheduled dates, a proposed Revised Scheduling Order should be attached. Any request for adjournments of court conferences 1
Source page 1Adjournments
shall be made at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled appearance. The Court will not advise the parties by telephone or mail of the disposition of requests for extensions and adjournments. Counsel are responsible for checking the docket sheet in the Clerk's office in person, by use of a service, or through use of the Court's ECF system.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
F. Contacting Counsel If the Court requires information from attorneys / litigants on a pending case, the Courtroom Deputy will contact the attorneys/litigants via e-mail. All Counsel should routinely check their e-mail for communication from the Courtroom Deputy. The Court contacts attorneys/litigants with the e-mail address of the Courtroom Deputy: David_C_Gonzalez@nysd.uscourts.gov.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
A. Pleadings One (1) courtesy copy of pleadings (example: Complaint, Rule 7.1, Answer), marked as such, shall be submitted to Chambers as soon as practical after filing, in accordance with the SDNY policies regarding mail deliveries. See Rule 1A with respect to courtesy copies of letters and Rule 3I with respect to courtesy copies of all motion papers.
Source page 2Motion practice
A. Pre-Motion Conferences in Civil Cases As described below (Rule 3C and 3D), a pre-motion conference with the Court is required before making any
Source page 2Communications with chambers
C. Discovery Motions Discovery disputes arising under Rules 26 through 37 or Rule 45 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure shall be heard only if the moving party has first conferred in good faith by telephone or in person with all other relevant parties in an effort to resolve the dispute. If this conference has not resolved the issue(s) raised, the moving party must inform the relevant parties during the conference that the moving party intends to seek relief from the Court on such issue(s). The moving party must thereafter promptly request a conference with the Court. To request a conference with the Court, the moving party shall file a letter, not to exceed three (3) pages in length and in compliance with Local Rule 11.1(b), setting forth the basis of the discovery dispute and the need for the anticipated motion. The letter must certify that the required in-person or telephonic conference took place between counsel and the relevant parties. The letter must also state the date of such conference and provide the adversary’s position as to each issue being raised (as stated by the adversary during the in-person or telephonic conference). These requirements are not satisfied by attaching copies of correspondence between
Source page 2Filing and working copies
counsel. The party opposing the requested relief should file a letter within three (3) business days (also not to exceed three (3) pages in length). The letters should be filed in accordance with Section 13.1 of the ECF Rules.
Source page 3Motion practice
D. Motions other than Discovery Motions To arrange a pre-motion conference, the moving party shall file a letter, not to exceed three (3) pages in length and in compliance with Local Rule 11.1(b), setting forth the basis for the anticipated motion. Other parties shall respond within three (3) business days. The moving party should not submit a reply letter unless the Court requests it. Once the Court is ready to schedule the pre-motion conference, the Courtroom Deputy will post the date on ECF.
Source page 3Motion practice
E. Return Date All motions should be made without a return date.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
F. Orders to Show Cause and Temporary Restraining Orders All applications for orders to show cause and temporary restraining orders first shall be brought to the Orders and Appeals Clerk for approval and then to Chambers, provided that in ECF cases, counsel shall adhere to any instructions given by the Clerk’s Office with respect to such applications. Applications for temporary restraining orders will be entertained only after notice to the adversary, absent a persuasive showing that the giving of notice itself is likely to result in immediate and irreparable injury.
Source page 3Motion practice
G. Memoranda of Law Unless prior permission has been granted, memoranda of law in support of and in opposition to motions are limited to twenty-five (25) pages, and reply memoranda are limited to ten (10) pages. Memoranda of ten (10) pages or more shall contain a table of contents.
Source page 3Motion practice
H. Filing Motion Papers Motion papers shall be filed promptly on ECF after service according to any schedule set by the Court.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
I. Courtesy Copies of Motion Papers Two (2) courtesy copies of all motion papers, marked as such, shall be submitted to Chambers at the time the papers are served, in accordance with the SDNY policies regarding mail deliveries.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
J. Bankruptcy Appeals Counsel shall provide Chambers with two (2) courtesy copies of their briefs, and counsel for appellant shall provide Chambers with one (1) courtesy copy of the record, immediately upon the filing of the originals with the Clerk of Court. The page limits applicable to memoranda of law on motions apply to briefs on bankruptcy appeals.
Source page 3Filing and working copies
1. Applications. An application for a default judgment must comply with Local Civil Rules 55.1 and 55.2 and will not be accepted absent the submission of a proposed form of default judgment and an affidavit containing
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
N. Settlement Agreements Unless the Court orders otherwise, the Court will not retain jurisdiction to enforce confidential settlement agreements. If the parties wish that the Court retain jurisdiction to enforce a settlement agreement, the parties must place the terms of their agreement on the public record. The parties may either provide a copy of the settlement agreement for the Court to endorse or include the terms of their settlement agreement in their stipulation of settlement and dismissal.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
A. Registration Counsel for all parties are required to register as filing users in accordance with the Procedures for Electronic Case Filing located on the SDNY website.
Source page 4Communications with chambers
B. ECF Notice All Civil and Criminal cases (except Pro Se cases) filed on or after March 1, 2004 that are assigned to Judge Crotty are Electronic Case Filings. All counsel must register for ECF and file a Notice of Appearance in each case pending before this Court. Counsel are responsible for checking their registered e-mail and docket sheet for Orders and Notices. If you are not receiving copies of Orders or Notices, please contact the ECF Help Desk at (212) 805-0800, or in person on the third floor of the courthouse.
Source page 4Conferences and appearances
A. Conference Location All conferences will be held in Courtroom 14-C unless otherwise indicated.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
C. Initial Conference/Arraignment in a Criminal Case Upon the assignment of a criminal case to Judge Crotty, the Assistant United States Attorney shall immediately provide a copy (see Rule 1A) of the Indictment and Complaint to Chambers and arrange, via email with the Deputy Clerk Mr. Gonzalez, for a prompt initial conference at which the defendant and defense counsel will be present in order to set a discovery schedule, motion schedule or trial date. The defendant shall be arraigned in Magistrate Court if bail has not been set. If bail has been set or if the defendant is remanded, Judge Crotty will preside over the arraignment.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
Defendants shall be prepared in advance of their pleas by their attorneys to give narrative allocutions that incorporate all the elements of the offense(s) to which they are pleading guilty. Where a defendant is pleading guilty pursuant to a plea agreement or a cooperation agreement, a copy of the agreement which is signed by the defendant and the defendant’s attorney must be received by Chambers no fewer than two business days before the scheduled plea. Where a defendant is pleading guilty pursuant to a Pimentel letter, a copy of the Pimentel letter must be received by Chambers no fewer than two business days before the scheduled plea.
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
E. Bail Modifications Any written request for a bail modification shall indicate whether the Government (AUSA) and the Pre-Trial Services Officer consent to the request.
Source page 5Filing and working copies
F. Sentencing Unless directed otherwise, all sentencing submission must be filed and submitted to the Court three business days in advance of the sentencing fate.
Source page 5Filing and working copies
In this regard, the parties are referred to E-Government Act of 2002 and the Southern District’s ECF Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) and reminded not, unless necessary, to include the five categories of “sensitive information” in their submissions (i.e., social security numbers, names of minor children [use the initials only], dates of birth [use the year only], financial account numbers, and home addresses [use only the City and State]).
Source page 5Filing and working copies
If any material is redacted from the publicly filed document, only those pages containing the redacted material will be filed under seal. Bring a copy of those pages to the sentencing proceeding, marked to indicate what information has been redacted from the publicly filed materials, to give to the Court for filing under seal.
Source page 6Filing and working copies
If letters are filed as hard copies, a party shall group all letters together in a single paper filing under a cover marked SENTENCING MEMORANDUM with the caption and docket number clearly indicated and submit it to the Clerk’s Office.
Source page 6Filing and working copies
If letters are filed electronically, they must be grouped and filed together as attachments to a single document marked SENTENCING MEMORANDUM with the caption and docket number clearly indicated.
Source page 6Filing and working copies
If a party redacts information beyond the eleven categories of information identified in the Privacy Policy, an application to do so must be served and filed at the time the sentencing submission is served. The application should clearly identify the redaction and explain the reasons for the redaction. The application will be addressed at the sentencing proceeding.
Source page 6Conferences and appearances
G. Initial Conference in a Civil Case The parties shall file on ECF a joint letter two (2) business days prior to the conference addressing 1-7 below in separate paragraphs. If the parties are unable to agree on a joint letter, each party shall file its own letter. For the Court’s convenience, the parties are requested to set forth the date and time of the conference in the opening paragraph of the joint letter. The parties shall agree on a Civil Case Management Plan which can be found at:
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
7. A statement as to whether or not all parties have consented to trial of the case by a magistrate judge (without identifying which parties have or have not so consented). If the parties are unable to agree on a joint letter, each party shall submit its own letter.
Source page 7Motion practice
A. Sealing/Redaction Requiring Court Approval Motions or Letter Motions for approval of sealed or redacted filings in civil and miscellaneous cases and the subject documents, including the proposed sealed document(s), must be filed electronically through the court’s ECF system in conformity with the court’s standing order, 19-mc-00583, and ECF Rules & Instructions, section 6.
Source page 7Motion practice
The motion must be filed in public view, must explain the reasons for seeking to file that information under seal and should not include confidential information sought to be filed under seal. Supporting papers must be separately filed electronically and may be filed under seal or redacted only to the extent necessary to safeguard information sought to be filed under seal.
Source page 7Motion practice
The proposed sealed document must be contemporaneously filed under seal in the ECF system and electronically related to the motion. The summary docket text, but not the sealed document, will be open to public inspection and should not include confidential information sought to be filed under seal.
Source page 7Motion practice
Where the motion seeks approval to redact information from a document that is to be publicly filed, the filing party shall: (a) publicly file the document with the proposed redactions, and (b) electronically file under seal a copy of the unredacted document with the proposed redactions highlighted.
Source page 7Communications with chambers
Both documents must be electronically filed through the ECF system and related to the motion The proposed sealed/redacted document, a copy of the motion to seal and any supporting papers must be contemporaneously submitted to the Court in paper form, by hand delivery or mail. Digital copies of these documents must also be emailed to chambers (outside the ECF system) at David_C_Gonzalez@nysd.uscourts.gov.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
1. All Exhibits are to be pre-marked. Plaintiff/Government shall mark the exhibits as numbers and Defendant shall use letters. Ideally, all should be marked before trial, but in all cases, exhibits must be marked no later than the morning of the session of the trial at which they are to be used. No trial time shall be taken for this purpose.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
2. Counsel are responsible for marking their own exhibits. Counsel must give two (2) copies of each exhibit to the Court (one for the Judge; the other for the Law Clerk) before using it at trial. Counsel must exchange copies of their trial exhibits before trial begins. The Court/Law Clerk copies of the pre-marked exhibits should be assembled sequentially in a notebook and tabbed. If an individual exhibit has multiple pages, the pages should be paginated.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
3. On the day of trial, counsel shall bring additional pre-marked copies for use by witnesses, the Courtroom Deputy, and opposing parties.
Source page 7Discovery
4. Counsel shall also provide copies to the Court of any depositions which are intended to be offered, in whole or part, into evidence. Depositions are not generally to be offered in their entirety. Copy the relevant pages only, staple the extracts from each deposition, and offer each as an exhibit.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
All witnesses should be identified in the Joint Pretrial Order in civil cases. Failure to list a witness may result in preclusion of that witness. A person who is expected to testify as a witness should not be present in the Courtroom during the examination of evidence (or have access to a transcript or summary of that evidence); but this rule is not applicable to professional persons who are engaged to provide testimony based on their specialized knowledge, and each party may have one representative in the Courtroom.
Source page 8Discovery
C. Court Reporter Please respect the Court Reporter’s function. If the spelling of names of people, places, or things is unusual, give a list of such words to the Court Reporter at the start of trial. Speak distinctly; do not speak while someone else is speaking. When referring to an exhibit, use its number or letter so that the record is clear as to what is being discussed. Answers given by a witness relating to distances in the Courtroom or objects before the witness should be clarified by a statement for the record so that the transcript will convey a clear report of what took place at trial. When depositions or documents are read, the reader should proceed slowly enough for the Court Reporter to record what is being said. Depositions are to be read by stating the word “Question” and then reading the question, then stating the word “Answer” and then reading the answer.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
Counsel should advise interpreters not to engage in a dialogue with the witness. Counsel should also remind interpreters to interpret the witness’s testimony word for word. Should the interpreter not understand the witness, the interpreter should so inform the Court immediately so that their inability to understand the witness and interpret their response to a particular question becomes part of the record.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
1. Please be on time for each court session. Trial engagements take precedence over any other business. If you have matters in other Courtrooms, arrange in advance to have them continued or have a colleague handle them for you.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
2. Court time may not be used for marking exhibits. Exhibits must be marked in advance of the court session.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
4. Please question the witnesses from the podium only, unless the Court gives you permission to approach the witness. Do not pace about the Courtroom when questioning witnesses.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
9. Please maintain professional decorum. Do not engage in disparaging or disrespectful personal remarks or acrimony toward opposing counsel or witnesses.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
11. No one at counsels’ table should gesture, make facial expressions, audible comments, or the like, as manifestations of approval or disapproval to the testimony of witnesses, or to a ruling or statement by the Court.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
12. Only one attorney for each party shall examine, or cross-examine, each witness. The attorney stating objections, if any, during direct examination, shall be the attorney recognized for cross-examination.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
13. In examining a witness, counsel should not repeat or echo the answer given by the witness.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
14. Please do not run out of witnesses. The Court will advise counsel of its schedule, and counsel should be prepared with witnesses to proceed continuously to the end of trial without interruption. (If a witness is not available, trial will proceed, and the witness’s testimony may be precluded.)
Source page 9Motion practice
F. Requirements Before A Trial. Unless ordered otherwise, the Joint Pretrial Order (civil cases), Proposed Voir Dire and Proposed Request to Charge are due three business days before the Final Pretrial Conference date. For civil cases, see Appendix A for the form of the Joint Pretrial Order. Any motions in limine must be fully briefed three business days before the final pretrial conference.
Source page 9Trial exhibits and witnesses
[State whether a jury is demanded, whether there is any dispute as to whether the action should be tried by a jury, and the estimated length of trial.]
Source page 9Trial exhibits and witnesses
[In non-jury cases, each party shall submit a separate statement of the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.]
Source page 10Trial exhibits and witnesses
[In all cases, each party shall submit a pretrial memorandum addressing all questions of law expected to arise at trial.]
Source page 10Trial exhibits and witnesses
[Each side shall list all exhibits it intends to offer on its case in chief. The list shall include a description of each exhibit. All exhibits shall be premarked. If an exhibit is not listed below, it may be used at trial only (a) for cross-examination purposes or (b) if good cause is shown for its exclusion from the pretrial order.]
Source page 10Trial exhibits and witnesses
[The parties shall set forth any stipulations with respect to the authenticity and admissibility of exhibits and indicate all objections to exhibits and grounds therefor.]
Source page 10Discovery
[Each party shall list the witnesses it intends to call on its case in chief and, if a witness’s testimony will be offered by deposition, shall designate by page and line numbers the portions of the deposition transcript it intends to offer. Each party shall set forth any objections it has to deposition testimony designated by the other and the basis therefore. The witnesses listed may be called at trial. If a witness is not identified, the witness shall not be permitted to testify on either party’s case in chief absent good cause shown.]
Source page 10Motion practice
[In all cases, counsel shall submit a list of all motions addressing any evidentiary or other issues that should be resolved in limine.]
Source page 11Trial exhibits and witnesses
[In jury cases, counsel shall provide the court with requests to charge and voir dire questions. The parties must submit a single, unified set of proposed jury instructions on the law applicable to the specific case. Where an instruction is not agreed upon, the parties should indicate who is proposing the instruction, as well as the legal basis for the instruction and for the other party’s opposition to the instruction. Where applicable, counsel shall also submit a proposed special verdict form.]
Source page 11Shared court rules
SDNY and EDNY — Joint Local Civil and Criminal Rules
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Federal district-court proceedings only. Civil and criminal sections have distinct scope and district-specific exceptions. Not Bankruptcy Court rules.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Sources
Identity source checked July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory · effective April 15, 2005 · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Federal Judicial Center biography ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · CourtListener / Free Law Project · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗