Richard A. Tsai at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2027
Richard A. Tsai
Supreme Court Justice · New York County Supreme Court
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Biography
Professional career
- Election: Initially elected to the Civil Court of the City of New York in 2017; later designated to the Criminal Court by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks
Education
Additional information
- Judge of the Criminal Court of the City of New York (New York County) and presides over cases in Part 21, City and Transit IAS of the New York County Supreme Court
- Current position: Judge, Criminal Court of the City of New York; also handles civil matters in the Supreme Court of New York County
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
New York statewide rules require permission before photographing, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, or telecasting in court facilities, including courtrooms.
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 obtainedPart 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗
Exhibits
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.
1.07. COURT CONTROL OVER PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCEGuide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗
Statewide
In New York Supreme Court and County Court civil cases, the court may require indexed trial exhibit binders, notebooks, or electronic equivalents for the court, counsel, and witnesses.
The court may direct that on the first day of trial or at such other time as the court may set, counsel shall submit an indexed binder or notebook, or the electronic equivalent, of trial exhibits for the court's use.Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗
Statewide
Civil trial counsel in New York Supreme Court and County Court must confer before trial and attempt to agree on exhibits to be offered without objection, unless the court directs otherwise.
Counsel for the parties shall consult prior to trial and shall in good faith attempt to agree upon the exhibits that will be offered into evidence without objection.Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
For Commercial Division matters, New York rules encourage Virtual Evidence Courtrooms for managing and presenting trial evidence after authorization by request or court direction.
Virtual Evidence Courtrooms (VECs) may be used to facilitate real-time access to trial exhibits and other relevant documents.Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗
Statewide
For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (41 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Conferences and appearances
Matters of administration and scheduling should be directed to the Part 21 Clerk. Appearance dates and times of court appearances are available on eTrack.
Source page 1Filing and working copies
Proposed judicial subpoenas to be so-ordered should be emailed to the Part 21 Clerk and CC’d to all other parties who have appeared. The proposed subpoena should not be e-filed. The party submitting the subpoena must include an attorney affirmation explaining the relevance of the materials sought and the need for a judicial subpoena.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
The parties should promptly notify the chambers of any settlement, any bankruptcy filing or any death of a party, or death of a party’s counsel, or suspension of a party’s counsel from the practice of law.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Ex Parte Communications to the Judge and to Chambers Staff are not permitted. Any email or letter sent to the judge or to his chambers staff must also be sent to the opposing party/parties. The email or letter must reflect that the opposing party has been “CC’d” on the communication. A party who wants to call the chambers must arrange a conference call with their adversary before
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Except as mentioned in the part rules, letters and emails may not be submitted to the chambers in lieu of a formal motion.
Source page 2Discovery
All discovery conferences are in-person, unless court permission to appear virtually has been granted due to the particular circumstances of a case, e.g., as an ADA accommodation.
Source page 2Adjournments
Absent an emergency, a request to adjourn a scheduled discovery conference must be approved by the court, even if the adjournment is on consent. Without prior court approval, any failure to appear may be considered a default pursuant to 22
Source page 2Adjournments
Requests to adjourn must be emailed to SFC-Part21-Clerk@nycourts.gov and to the opposing parties’ counsel, no later than two (2) business days before the scheduled conference. The request must include a reason for the adjournment.
Source page 2Adjournments
Consent adjournment: the party seeking the adjournment should also attach a stipulation of adjournment to the email request.
Source page 2Adjournments
If the adjournment request is approved, the parties should check eTrack for the new appearance date and time.
Source page 2Adjournments
Contested adjournment: the party opposing the adjournment must promptly reply to the email adjournment request to the Part Clerk stating that they oppose the adjournment. The parties’ counsel must be prepared to be available for a conference on MS Teams either to resolve the adjournment dispute, or for the contested application to be heard on the record.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
Counsel appearing for a scheduled conference should check-in with the Part Clerk upon arrival in courtroom 280.
Source page 3Discovery
The parties must then confer with each other to agree upon clear deadlines for discovery and to agree upon what specific discovery remains outstanding.2 Once the parties have agreed to all the discovery deadlines and outstanding discovery, they should submit the completed discovery order to the Part Clerk or Court Officer for the case to be called for a conference before the court.
Source page 3Discovery
If the parties fail to agree upon the discovery, they should submit the pre-printed conference order to the Part Clerk or Court Officer, informing them that the parties were unable to agree.
Source page 3Discovery
All parties must be present when the case is called for a court conference, so that they are either available to answer to any substantive questions from the court about the case, or be present to hear their adversary’s responses. A default might be taken against an attorney who has left the courtroom when the case is called, even if the parties had agreed upon the discovery.3
Source page 3Motion practice
The party making the application for a ruling must still show compliance with a good faith effort to resolve the discovery dispute (see 22 NYCRR 202.7 [a], [c]; 22 NYCRR 202.20-f [b]) and bring to the discovery conference any supporting documentation that would have been included as exhibits on a formal discovery motion. The party making the application should inform their adversary that a ruling will be sought at the discovery conference.
Source page 3Discovery
Upon completion of discovery, a scheduled discovery conference is canceled only
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
3 If an attorney must leave the courtroom to appear in another part, the attorney may leave their contact phone number with the Part Clerk so that they can be reached when the case is ready to be conferenced. 3
Source page 3Discovery
(2) plaintiff emails their adversary and the Part Clerk at least two (2) business days before the discovery conference that the note of issue was filed; and
Source page 4Motion practice
If an objection is made, the scheduled discovery conference is not canceled. If the next scheduled conference is more than 20 days away from the date of the filing of the note of issue, then defendant must timely file a motion to vacate the note of issue to preserve their objection.
Source page 4Adjournments
However, court approval is required where there has been two (2) prior instances of non-compliance with court-ordered discovery deadlines for the specific discovery at issue, even if the adjournment is on consent. Such court approval to extend/adjourn a discovery deadline must be requested by email to the Chambers no later than two (2) full business days (i.e., 48 hours) before the discovery deadline.
Source page 4Adjournments
If the extension/adjournment of a discovery deadline is opposed, the parties’ counsel must be prepared to be available for a conference either by telephone or on MS Teams either to resolve the adjournment dispute, or for the contested application to be heard on the record.
Source page 4Discovery
Such stipulations must clearly state, without any reservation, that all discovery is complete, and the stipulation must provide a specific date when the note of issue must be filed (e.g. “3/15/24” or “March 11, 2024”). The parties are free to agree upon any specific date that is no later than 35 days from the date of the stipulation.
Source page 4Communications with chambers
Except for litigants who are self-represented, Part 21 is a “paperless” e-filing part; all motion papers must be e-filed through NYSCEF. Please do not send any courtesy (paper) copies of any motion papers or related documents directly to the Part or Chambers, unless requested by the court.
Source page 5Motion practice
All motion papers must comply with the formatting requirements set forth in 22 NYCRR 202.5 and the word limits set forth in 22 NYCRR 202.8-b (e.g., 7,000 words for moving papers and opposition papers, and 4,200 words for reply papers).
Source page 5Communications with chambers
Requests for permission to submit an oversize submission exceeding the word limit may be submitted by a letter application, on notice to all the parties, via email to the chambers before the motion is e-filed. Absent court permission, the court may reject any noncompliant papers.
Source page 5Filing and working copies
Each affirmation, affidavit, memorandum of law, or exhibit should be e-filed as a separate NYSCEF Document, under its own document number.
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
References to any exhibit must include pinpoint citations to the exact page within the exhibit.
Source page 5Motion practice
Once a motion is marked fully submitted, the court will not consider any further submissions unless expressly authorized by the court.
Source page 6Adjournments
Unless a ruling was previously sought at a discovery conference, a discovery motion will be scheduled for a discovery conference or adjourned to the next scheduled discovery conference.
Source page 6Motion practice
All summary judgment motions must be filed within 120 days after the filing of the note of issue.
Source page 6Motion practice
Oral argument is granted if all appearing parties request oral argument (see 22 NYCRR 202.8 [d]; 22 NYCRR 202.8-f). Otherwise, oral argument is generally not granted, except in limited cases where the court would like the parties to address particular issues raised in the motion papers. Virtual appearance for oral argument is granted only in cases where all the appearing parties consent to appearing virtually, and they have all participated in e-filing.
Source page 6Motion practice
An order to show cause should be brought only when there is genuine urgency (e.g., applications for provisional relief or for a stay), or when required by 6
Source page 6Communications with chambers
Please refer to the Supreme Court of New York County’s website for the procedure for filing proposed orders to show cause. Any questions regarding the procedure for filing proposed orders to show cause should be directed to the Ex Parte Office (60 Centre Street, Rm. 315) at 646-386-3125.
Source page 7Motion practice
Any party seeking temporary injunctive relief (e.g., a TRO or a stay) in an order to show cause must comply with 22 NYCRR 202.8-e and submit an affirmation of such compliance.
Source page 7Motion practice
Unless otherwise directed in the signed order to show cause, reply papers are not permitted on orders to show cause.
Source page 7Trial exhibits and witnesses
The parties are strongly encouraged to meet and confer in good faith to agree upon the exhibits that will be offered into evidence at trial without objection. All exhibits intended to be offered into evidence at the trial shall be pre-marked in accordance with 22 NYCRR 202.34.
Source page 8Conferences and appearances
Once a trial is assigned to Part 21, the court will conduct a pre-trial conference. At the pre-trial conference, plaintiff must provide all marked pleadings and all
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
• A written list of proposed witnesses they intend to call in the order in which they shall testify, and the estimated length of time for their direct testimony. The list should identify whether a witness needs a language interpreter, along with the required language and dialect, if any. The list should identify whether a witness is a fact witness or an expert witness.
Source page 8Communications with chambers
On the first day of a jury trial, the parties must submit via email to the chambers
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
Counsel shall retrieve any trial exhibits from the courtroom within 30 days of the close of the trial.
Source page 8Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
New York County Supreme Court
State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-2722 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court
New York County Supreme Court
Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27New York County Supreme Court, Civil Branch — Rules of the Justices
New York County Supreme Court
Civil Branch proceedings in New York County Supreme Court only; not criminal proceedings. Preserve source version and check later judge/part instructions.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
New York County Supreme Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
New York County Supreme Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster ↗Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction ↗New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 28, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster ↗Justice Tsai Part 21 Rules
Judge Specific source · PDF · Source checked July 28, 2026
View Justice Tsai Part 21 Rules ↗Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction ↗