--- title: "Paul L. Damato | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-l-damato" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Paul L. Damato Suffolk County Family Court · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Suffolk County Family Court - State: New York - Role: Family Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Suffolk County District Court Judge serving in the 4th District Court in Hauppauge, NY, elected for a term running through 2034 - Murphy & Lynch, P.C., Partner, 1993 to 2024 - Damato’s legal focus and long‐term practice in property and tax law distinguish him from many other judges in the district - Official NY Courts Judge Directory: Suffolk District Civil Court Judges – Paul L. Damato New York State Unified Court System - Profile: Paul L. Damato – Suffolk County Court Judge ### Education - M.B.A. — Long Island University — 2010 - Long Island University — 2002 - Hofstra University Law — 1987 - Fordham University — B.A. (1984) ### Additional information - BZA Member, Smithtown Township, 2024 to Present - In 2024, he was a candidate for re‐election to the 4th District Court seat, running alongside John Zollo against Maria Scheuring - Village of Port Jefferson, Village Assessor, 2017 to 2024 - Paul L. Damato has over 36 years of legal experience specializing in real estate tax and property valuation law ## 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 ### recording and photography Scope: statewide New York statewide rules require permission before photographing, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, or telecasting in court facilities, including courtrooms. Evidence excerpt: 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 obtained [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### evidence presentation control Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 1.07. COURT CONTROL OVER PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE [Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role](https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/evidence/1-GENERAL/1-generalprovisions.shtml) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=JsUTtAQKPQtG_PLUS__PLUS_v8wba6yA%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=JsUTtAQKPQtG_PLUS__PLUS_v8wba6yA%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=JsUTtAQKPQtG_PLUS__PLUS_v8wba6yA%3D%3D) - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true) - [Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role](https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/evidence/1-GENERAL/1-generalprovisions.shtml) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. Paul L. Damato](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=JsUTtAQKPQtG_PLUS__PLUS_v8wba6yA%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-l-damato", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-l-damato", "name": "Paul L. Damato | KnowJudges", "description": "Paul L. Damato, Suffolk County Family Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-l-damato#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-l-damato#judge", "name": "Paul L. 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Damato", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-l-damato" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 205 — Uniform Rules Family Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-df42937f9fd0e92b8072) — Family Court proceedings [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-205-uniform-rules-family-court). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-99a7824bb8e009643f842c03) — 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](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-34fe480ab82f22fa3c31d257) — 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](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=true). Collected 2026-07-26.