Robert R. Reed at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2030
Robert R. Reed
Supreme Court Justice · New York County Supreme Court
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Biography
Professional career
- Justice, New York Supreme Court, New York County, New York, NY, 2017-present
- Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 2008-2017
- Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, New York County, New York, NY, 2014-2016
- In 2014, he became an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court, presiding over a general individual assignment part in New York County Supreme Court, Civil Branch, and was elected a Supreme Court Justice in 2016
- Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 2010-2012
- Acting Justice, New York City Family Court, Bronx County, New York City, NY, 2008-2010
- Elected to the New York City Civil Court in 2007 and began serving in January 2008, initially as an Acting Family Court Judge in Bronx Family Court.
- After leaving the Attorney General’s Office, Reed returned to private practice from 1993 to 2007, holding senior positions at Williams & Harris LLP and Bryan Cave LLP, and briefly exploring solo practice.
- Partner (previously Counsel and Senior Litigation Associate), William & Harris LLP, 1993-1998
- Assistant Attorney General, New York State Attorney General's Office, Litigation Bureau and Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, NY, 1998-1991
- Deputy Bureau Chief, New York State Attorney General's Office, Civil Rights Bureau,, New York, NY, 1991-1993
- From 1988 to 1993, he served in the New York State Attorney General's Office, including roles as Assistant Attorney General in the Litigation and Criminal Prosecutions Bureaus and Deputy Bureau Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau
- Began his legal career as an associate at Carpenter Bennett & Morrissey in Newark, New Jersey, and later at Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C., in Manhattan
- Justice Reed was born and raised in Compton, California
- He frequently serves as a panelist, speaker, and moot court judge for legal and community programs
Education
- Harvard University — J.D. (1984)
- Harvard Law School in — J.D. (1984)
- A.B. in Political Science from Stanford University in 1981
Additional information
- Since October 2020, he has been assigned to the Supreme Court’s Commercial Division
- Practitioner, Private Practice, 2006-2007
- Practitioner, Bryan Cave LLP, 1998-2006
- Practitioner, Sive Paget & Riesel, P.C., 1986-1988
- Practitioner, Carpenter Bennett & Morrissey, 1984-1986
- handling complex civil cases
- Justice Reed has presided over numerous civil cases, including Perella Weinberg Partners LLC v.
- During this period, he also held the role of a neutral in various mediation and alternative dispute resolution programs, including the New York County Supreme Court Commercial Division ADR Program and panels for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York New York State Unified Court System
- He subsequently served in Bronx County Civil Court and New York County Civil Court.
- Justice Reed is actively involved in community and professional organizations, including the NAACP Mid-Manhattan Branch, Metropolitan Black Bar Association, One Hundred Black Men, Inc., and the Supreme Court Justices Association of New York City.
- He has received awards such as the “Mentor of the Year Award” from One Hundred Black Men, Inc., the “Man of the Year Award” from the Association of Black Women Attorneys, and the “Roy Wilkins Judicial Excellence Award” from the NAACP Mid-Manhattan Branch.
- Birth place: Compton, CA
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 (49 excerpts)
See document heading and cited passage; do not apply outside the issuing part or proceeding.
Official rules document ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27
Communications with chambers
c) Justice Reed, his Law Clerks, and Part Clerk will not engage in any ex parte communications. Counsel for all parties, including pro se litigants, must be carbon-copied on all correspondence with the court.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
e) Counsel must notify the court as soon as practicable, of any settlement or resolution of active cases or pending motions. Counsel may contact the court by conference call to the Part Clerk, or by email to chambers with a carbon copy to all counsel assigned to the matter.
Source page 1Filing and working copies
a) Part 43 is an e-filing Part. All e-filed documents must be text-searchable. All electronically submitted memoranda of law must contain bookmarks and hyperlinks pursuant to Commercial Division Rule 6.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
b) Documents requiring Justice Reed’s signature for so-ordering must be emailed to Chambers at SFC- part43@nycourts.gov.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
b) Please refrain from calling chambers. All communication with Part 43 shall be sent my email, copying all counsel, to both chambers and the part clerk.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
d) Should the parties desire a conference, a request should be sent to chambers at SFC- part43@nycourts.gov, stating the reason for the conference request. The court will schedule a conference, if appropriate.
Source page 2Adjournments
a) All requests for adjournments (motions scheduled for oral argument, conferences, trials) require prior court approval. Without prior approval, a stipulation will not be accepted and failure to appear may result in a default, or appropriate sanction. Ex parte applications will not be considered. All adjournment requests must provide a reason for the request.
Source page 2Adjournments
b) All requests to adjourn a conference shall be directed to the Part Clerk at 646-386-3238 or by emailing the Part Clerk at SFC-Part43-Clerk@nycourts.gov. Applications to adjourn a conference shall be made at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled conference. Do not call Chambers regarding scheduling matters or requests for adjournments.
Source page 2Adjournments
d) In general, motions scheduled for oral argument will only be adjourned by stipulation. The parties must first consult with the Part Clerk before selecting a new date for the oral argument. Applications to adjourn a motion scheduled for oral argument should be made at least 72 hours in advance of the oral argument.
Source page 2Adjournments
e) Except for emergency situations, adjournments for motions scheduled for oral argument will not be given if the application is made less than 72 hours before the scheduled appearance.
Source page 2Adjournments
i. If the parties wish to adjourn the motion to a date less than sixty (60) days from the original return date, the parties may adjourn by stipulation without an order from the Court. The stipulation must be electronically filed and filed in the Submissions Part on the return date of the motion.
Source page 2Adjournments
ii. If the parties wish to adjourn the motion to a date more than sixty (60) days from the original return date, the parties must submit a stipulation of adjournment to the court for approval.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
1) Parties must deliver the proposed stipulation to the court by emailing chambers at SFC-part43@nycourts.gov.
Source page 3Adjournments
g) To adjourn a hearing or trial, the parties must contact the Part Clerk at 646-386-3238 on a conference call with all parties on the line. The parties may also email the Part Clerk at SFC-Part43- Clerk@nycourts.gov. All parties should be copied on the email. Applications for adjournments shall be made at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled hearing or trial.
Source page 3Adjournments
h) All court-approved stipulations to adjourn must be electronically filed by the parties.
Source page 3Discovery
a) Except as otherwise stipulated or ordered by the court, a party must, without awaiting a discovery
Source page 3Communications with chambers
(i) A list of the names and, if known, the address and telephone number of each individual that the disclosing party intends to use to support their claims or defenses, unless such use is solely for impeachment, together with a brief description of the information expected to be elicited from such individual;
Source page 3Courtroom conduct and technology
(ii) A copy of all documents, electronically stored information, or other tangible things referred to in the pleadings unless they are attached to the pleadings;
Source page 3Discovery
c) The disclosing party shall e-file an affirmation certifying completion of the initial disclosure.
Source page 3Discovery
d) A party that is first served or otherwise joined after the Commercial Division Rule 8 consultation must make the initial disclosures within 30 days after making an appearance, unless a different time is set by stipulation or court order.
Source page 3Discovery
e) A party must make its initial disclosures based on the information then reasonably available to it. A party is not excused from making its disclosures because it has not fully investigated the case or because it challenges the sufficiency of another party's disclosures or because another party has not made its disclosures. Failure to utilize good faith in making an initial disclosure may result in an award to the non-disclosing party of the attorneys’ fees and costs occasioned by such failure.
Source page 3Motion practice
a) Summary judgment motions must be filed not later than 60 days after the filing of the Note of Issue. Each party must comply with Commercial Division Rule 19-a by submitting a separate statement of material facts.
Source page 4Motion practice
b) Only one motion for summary judgment may be made, whether made before or after the filing of the Note of Issue, unless the court directs otherwise.
Source page 4Motion practice
d) Following oral argument, the movant shall order the transcript and arrange with the court reporter to have the transcript emailed to the court at sfc-part43@nycourts.gov. If a decision and order has been issued on the record, Justice Reed will “so order” the transcript, and the Part Clerk will e-file the “so ordered” transcript.
Source page 4Motion practice
e) Affirmations submitted in support of or in response to dispositive motions must be separate from any memoranda of law. Affirmations should not include arguments of law.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
g) Word limits specified in Commercial Division Rule 17 will be strictly enforced, unless permission to expand the word limit is granted in advance of the filing of papers.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
h) Combined briefs – similarly situated parties (e.g., multiple defendants moving to dismiss on overlapping grounds) should make reasonable efforts to consolidate their briefing papers to avoid duplication. The court will consider requests to enlarge applicable word limitations to facilitate the filing of combined briefs.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
i) Each exhibit must be e-filed under its own document number and include a short label identifying the nature of the exhibit (e.g., Complaint, Contract dated 10/23/22, etc.).
Source page 4Communications with chambers
j) Orders to show cause with requests for temporary restraining orders, including requests for a temporary stay of an action, will generally not be heard ex parte (22 NYCRR 202.7(f); 22 NYCRR 202.70, Rule 20).
Source page 4Motion practice
k) OSC opposition papers shall be e-filed no later than 72 hours before the motion is to be heard. The court will not accept replies on any OSC.
Source page 4Motion practice
l) The CPLR does not provide for sur-reply papers, however denominated. Papers or letters regarding a fully submitted motion should not be presented to the court after submission of the motion in the Motion Submissions Part Courtroom (Room 130), or after argument in the Part, absent advance permission of the court. Materials presented in violation of this rule will not be accepted or reviewed.
Source page 4Communications with chambers
a) All discovery conferences are conducted virtually – absent extraordinary circumstances. If an in- person conference is requested, the parties must submit their application to chambers no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled conference date.
Source page 5Discovery
b) Only attorneys thoroughly familiar with the case may appear for a conference. Attorneys should bring signed copies of all prior decisions, orders, and stipulations (both substantive and discovery related) to the conference.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
c) At least seven (7) days prior to every conference, a draft order must be completed and submitted to chambers. The parties must use specific cut-off dates (e.g., “on or before December 31, 2022”). Do not use open-ended dates or general timeframes, such as “within 45 days,” etc.
Source page 5Discovery
d) Preliminary Conferences: The parties may request a preliminary conference by email to SFC- part43@nycourts.gov. At least seven (7) days prior to the preliminary conference date, the parties must comply with Commercial Division Rule 8 and submit a consent preliminary conference order to the part. An approved consent preliminary conference order will obviate the need to appear for a conference. If the parties cannot agree on a discovery schedule, the plaintiff and any party asserting a counterclaim must submit a Commercial Division Rule 11(a) statement not exceeding three single spaced pages, setting forth the discovery dispute. Parties are to use this Part’s standard form
Source page 5Motion practice
e) Compliance Conferences: At least seven (7) days prior to the compliance conference, counsel shall submit a joint letter not exceeding three single-spaced pages, setting forth the status of discovery, describing any significant disputes to be addressed at the conference, whether there are any outstanding motions and/or appeals, and whether the parties have attempted Alternative Dispute Resolution or other efforts at settlement. The joint letter must be filed to NYSCEF and sent by email to SFC-part43@nycourts.gov.
Source page 5Motion practice
f) Status Conference: At least seven (7) days prior to the status conference, counsel shall submit a joint letter not exceeding three single-spaced pages, setting forth a summary of the case, the current schedule for completion of discovery and filing of the Note of Issue, and proposed revisions to the schedule and reasons therefor, whether there are any outstanding motions and/or appeals, and whether the parties have attempted Alternative Dispute Resolution or other efforts at settlement. The joint letter must be filed to NYSCEF and sent by email to SFC-part43@nycourts.gov.
Source page 5Conferences and appearances
g) The following procedures shall be followed if a conference is conducted in-person. After filling out the appropriate form, counsel must check-in with the Park Clerk. At check-in, please hand in your conference form to the Part Clerk. The Part Clerk will then call your case when the court is ready for your conference. All appearing parties must be present for a case to be conferenced. Without a conference, the order will not be signed. A conference has not been completed until either Justice Reed or one of his Law Clerks has reviewed the completed form and conferenced the case.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
i) Discovery motions are discouraged. If a dispute cannot be resolved after good faith efforts to meet and confer, the parties should proceed in accordance with Commercial Division Rule 14. The parties shall coordinate to make a single Rule 14 submission to chambers at SFC-part43@nycourts.gov, containing both the initial letter and any responsive letter(s). No exhibits or attachments shall be included.
Source page 6Conferences and appearances
a) The submissions required under Commercial Division Rules 26, 27, 28, 29, 31(a), 31(b), and 32, plus marked pleadings and a Joint Statement of Stipulated Facts and Procedural History, shall be made at least 10 days prior to the final Pre-Trial Conference.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
b) In addition to the above, for jury trials the following materials shall be submitted at least 10 days
Source page 6Communications with chambers
ii. Proposed jury instructions, including the text of relevant PJI Instructions, should be submitted by e-mail to Chambers (SFC-part43@nycourts.gov) in Word format. The submission should note the instructions to which the parties have stipulated. Any proposed deviations from PJI Instructions should be highlighted and explained, with citations to legal authority where appropriate.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
e) Do not approach a witness, the jury, or the bench without permission of the court. Please allow the witness to complete his/her answer to your question before asking another question.
Source page 6Conferences and appearances
f) For non-jury trials, the parties shall submit proposed findings of facts and conclusions of law within ten (10) calendar days of the close of the record, unless otherwise directed by the court.
Source page 6Motion practice
g) Any post-trial motion shall be made within the time allotted pursuant to CPLR 4405.
Source page 6Trial exhibits and witnesses
a) Sealing (including redactions beyond those permitted by the Redaction Rules) is discouraged. Any request for additional redactions or sealing shall be made according to the Uniform Rules for Trial Courts 22 NYCRR 216.1.
Source page 7Motion practice
c) Motions to seal and/or redact shall be made by order to show cause and shall include a spreadsheet identifying each document by New York State Court Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) document number. Movant’s memorandum of law shall set forth the basis of the purported good cause to seal or redact each document or piece of information and any applicable law or authority supporting movant’s good cause to seal/redact the document/information. The movant’s papers must also include an affidavit from a person with knowledge setting forth the grounds to seal or redact the document/information. An attorney affirmation, standing alone, is not adequate.
Source page 7Motion practice
examples of specifically-identified categories include “third-party borrower personal identifying information,” “pricing terms for international customers,” “investment methodologies,” “capital contribution information of private entities,” and “strategies for structuring, collateralizing, and marketing structured products.” A carefully tailored list of categories incorporated into movant’s spreadsheet that articulate precise categories of information is required. Generic categories generally will not establish the requisite good cause to seal or redact, and thus could unnecessarily lead to successive/further motion practice.
Source page 8Filing and working copies
e) If the court permits additional redactions or sealing of a document in whole or in part, counsel shall e-file both the redacted copy publicly and the unredacted copy of the document under seal. Additional instructions are available at Protocol on Courthouse and County Clerk Procedures for Electronically Filed Cases.
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 August 2, 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 ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗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 ↗