--- title: "Pierce F. Cohalan | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pierce-f-cohalan" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Pierce F. Cohalan 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 - Acting County Court Judge, District Court, Suffolk County, Fifth District, Designated by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks, 2018 to 2026 - Other assignments: Acting judge on the Suffolk County Court (2018–2026) - Judge, District Court, Suffolk County, Fifth District, Elected, 2015 to 2020 - Judge on the Suffolk County District Court in New York, presiding over the Veterans Court and other cases in the 10th Judicial District - Current position: Judge, Suffolk County District Court, Department D33, 10th Judicial District, New York ### Education - Hofstra University School of Law — J.D. (1994) - Lehigh University, Bethlehem, P.A — B.A. (1989) ### Additional information - Public service: Chief Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Town of Islip (2013) - M.B.A. — Columbia Business School — 2006 - Recognized for his dual role in handling general district court matters and leading a specialized veterans’ justice program, combining legal expertise with a focus on rehabilitation and community support - Notable facts: Sixth member of his family across four generations to become a judge; first judge to captain a ferry on the Great South Bay ## 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=fo4EXhWEgwsmnxGBFSNVDA%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=fo4EXhWEgwsmnxGBFSNVDA%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=fo4EXhWEgwsmnxGBFSNVDA%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. Pierce F. Cohalan](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=fo4EXhWEgwsmnxGBFSNVDA%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pierce-f-cohalan", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pierce-f-cohalan", "name": "Pierce F. Cohalan | KnowJudges", "description": "Pierce F. Cohalan, 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/pierce-f-cohalan#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pierce-f-cohalan#judge", "name": "Pierce F. 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Cohalan", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/pierce-f-cohalan" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.