--- title: "Rhonda Z. Tomlinson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rhonda-z-tomlinson" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-03" --- # Rhonda Z. Tomlinson Kings County Court of Claims · Court of Claims Judge ## Profile - Court: Kings County Court of Claims - State: New York - Role: Court of Claims Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - New York State judge currently serving on the New York State Court of Claims for Kings County, appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2025 for a term running through 2031 - Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, Kings County, New York, NY, 2022-present - Acting Justice, Supreme Court, Kings County, Criminal Term, Designated by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks, 2022 to Present - Judge, NYS Court of Claims, Appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul, 2022 to 2031 - Judge, New York Court of Claims, NY, 2021-2022 - Judge, NYS Court of Claims, Appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, 2021 to 2022 - Chief Administrative Law Judge, New York State Board of Parole — Oversaw parole hearings at Rikers Island Judicial Center from 2014 until her appointment to the Brooklyn Criminal Court - Principal Court Attorney, NYS Unified Court System, NY, 2011-2014 ### Education - Hofstra University — J.D. (1996) - Industrial and Labor Relations — Cornell University — 1989 - Hofstra University School of Law — J.D. - Cornell University — B.S. ### Additional information - c-admin-jus, New York State Board of Parole, NY, 2018-2021 - Supervising Administrative Judge, New York State Board of Parole, NY, 2014-2018 - During her tenure as Chief ALJ at Rikers Island, Tomlinson presided over parole revocation hearings in a high-volume, carceral system. - Public Policy Leader — SUNY at Albany - She has also contributed to legal and community discussions, including op-eds on justice leadership - Tomlinson has been recognized in official New York Courts announcements for her appointment to the Court of Claims. ## 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 ### courtroom technology Scope: courtwide The New York Court of Claims publishes courtroom evidence-presentation technology, including document/photo/object/video presentation and laptop connections in specified courtrooms. Evidence excerpt: With minimal effort, attorneys can present documents, color photos, objects, videos, and use electronic presentations to bring details to the court. [Court of Claims Courtroom Technology](https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/court-claims/courtroom-technology) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### 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=2nOC_PLUS_HgYO7DdeqtfgbDBLA%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=2nOC_PLUS_HgYO7DdeqtfgbDBLA%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=2nOC_PLUS_HgYO7DdeqtfgbDBLA%3D%3D) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15118/rhonda-ziomaida-tomlinson/) - [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) - [Court of Claims Courtroom Technology](https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/court-claims/courtroom-technology) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15118/rhonda-ziomaida-tomlinson/) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. Rhonda Z. Tomlinson](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=2nOC_PLUS_HgYO7DdeqtfgbDBLA%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rhonda-z-tomlinson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rhonda-z-tomlinson", "name": "Rhonda Z. Tomlinson | KnowJudges", "description": "Rhonda Z. Tomlinson, Kings County Court of Claims. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-03", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rhonda-z-tomlinson#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rhonda-z-tomlinson#judge", "name": "Rhonda Z. 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Tomlinson", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rhonda-z-tomlinson" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 206 — Uniform Rules Court Claims](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-319c3a2b568bb82e1cf6) — Court of Claims actions and proceedings [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-206-uniform-rules-court-claims). 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.