--- title: "Phillip Dabney Jr. | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/phillip-dabney-jr" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Phillip Dabney Jr. Erie County City Court · City Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Erie County City Court - State: New York - Role: City 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 - Judge on the Buffalo City Court in New York’s 8th Judicial District, serving on the Housing Court bench since 2024 and previously elected to a full 10‐year term on the City Court in 2021 - Judge, City Court, Buffalo, Elected, 2022 to 2031 - Judge, City Court, Buffalo, Appointed by Mayor Byron Brown, 2020 to 2021 - Administrative law judge for the New York State Liquor Authority (2008–2012) - Private practice in Buffalo (2004–2006), partner at Dabney, Johnson & Key, LLC ### Education - J.D. — University at Buffalo School of Law — 2002 - Canisius College of Buffalo — B.A. (1998) ### Additional information - Dabney has handled cases in criminal, civil, and administrative matters, and in Housing Court has focused on lead violations and housing code enforcement. - He is also active in community engagement, with the Erie County Bar Association rating him “qualified” for judicial roles ## 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 ### electronic appearances Scope: statewide For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements. Evidence excerpt: For all hybrid proceedings, all electronic appearances shall be projected in the physical courtroom in which the in-person portion of the proceeding is taking place in such a manner as to provide a reasonable opportunity for members of the public to view and hear the participants appearing electronically. [Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### justice court civil procedure Scope: statewide New York Part 214 applies statewide to civil actions and proceedings in Town, Village, and City Justice Courts outside New York City; each court establishes and posts its regular sessions, subject to modification by the Chief Administrator. Evidence excerpt: This Part shall be applicable to all actions and proceedings in the Town, Village and City Justice Courts of the State of New York, outside the City of New York. [Part 214: Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-214-uniform-civil-rules-justice-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-27 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=Xg0ilfx/HsRHGTxN1mC2WQ%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=Xg0ilfx/HsRHGTxN1mC2WQ%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=Xg0ilfx/HsRHGTxN1mC2WQ%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) - [Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction) - [Part 214: Uniform Civil Rules for the Justice Courts](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-214-uniform-civil-rules-justice-courts) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. Phillip Dabney Jr.](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=Xg0ilfx/HsRHGTxN1mC2WQ%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/phillip-dabney-jr", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/phillip-dabney-jr", "name": "Phillip Dabney Jr. | KnowJudges", "description": "Phillip Dabney Jr., Erie County City Court. 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[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.