--- title: "Peter M. Torncello | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/peter-m-torncello-ny-trial-062a8e33" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-27" --- # Peter M. Torncello City Court, Watervliet · Judge ## Profile - Court: City Court, Watervliet - State: New York - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, City Court, Watervliet, Appointed by Mayor Charles Patricelli, 2022 to 2028 - Retired judge of the Watervliet City Court in New York’s 3rd Judicial District, appointed in 2022 by Mayor Charles V. Patricelli and retiring in 2024 - Torncello held the role of a judge in the Watervliet City Court (Albany County, NY) from April 2022 until his retirement in 2024 ### Education ### Additional information - Elected Watervliet City Council member (2020–2022) before becoming judge - Current court assignment: City Court, Watervliet - The 3rd Judicial District covers Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. - He succeeded Judge Sue Reinfurt, who had been on the bench for 24 years ## 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=xJ0z_PLUS_Qi6E0QTUhRcuCc/LA%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=xJ0z_PLUS_Qi6E0QTUhRcuCc/LA%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=xJ0z_PLUS_Qi6E0QTUhRcuCc/LA%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) - [New York State Unified Court System judicial profile or roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=xJ0z_PLUS_Qi6E0QTUhRcuCc/LA%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/peter-m-torncello-ny-trial-062a8e33", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/peter-m-torncello-ny-trial-062a8e33", "name": "Peter M. 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Torncello", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/peter-m-torncello-ny-trial-062a8e33" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-5e0f997e8c334d15fbc4) — State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction). Collected 2026-10-27. - [22 NYCRR Part 210 — Uniform Civil Rules City Courts Outside City New York](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-f979bc267acf4bd3f61f) — Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-210-uniform-civil-rules-city-courts-outside-city-new-york). 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.