Ronnie Abrams at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · Federal
- Judicial service
- Active
Ronnie Abrams
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile.
Judicial assignments
- Dover Town CourtTown JusticeSource checked October 15, 2026. Roster source
These published assignments do not certify a complete bench.
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · Judge · Active · March 23, 2012–present · Assignment source ↗
Appointment and verification
- Appointment method
- Presidential appointment with Senate confirmation
- Appointing authority
- Barack Obama
- Source authority
- Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory
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Biography
Professional career
- Judge, District Court, S.D. New York, 2012-present
- American federal judge serving on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York since March 23, 2012, appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate 96–2
- From 1998 to 2008, Abrams was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, rising to Chief of the General Crimes Unit (2005–2007) and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division (2007–2008)
- Law clerk, Hon. Thomas P. Griesa, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1993-1994
- She later worked in private practice at Davis Polk and held the role of counsel to the New York State Justice Task Force on wrongful convictions
- She has also been an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School
- After law school, she held the role of a law clerk to Judge Thomas P. Griesa of the Southern District of New York
Education
- Yale University — J.D. (1993)
- Yale Law School in — J.D. (1993)
- Cornell University in — B.A. (1990)
Additional information
- Lecturer-in-law, Columbia University School of Law, 2008-present
- President Obama nominated her on July 28, 2011, and the Senate confirmed her on March 22, 2012; she assumed office on March 23, 2012, succeeding Lewis A. Kaplan
- Private practice, New York City, 2008-2012
- acting chief, General Crimes Unit, 2004-2005
- Private practice, New York City, 1994-1998
- Date of birth: 1968-01-01
- United States federal judge
- She was recognized with the U.S. Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance for high-profile cases, including convictions of members of a Colombian gang linked to the murder of a NYPD detective and leaders of the Bloods gang.
- Birth place: New York, NY
Ronnie Abrams Procedures & Courtroom Rules
Electronic Devices
Judge Specific
Judge Abrams requires a prior court order for computers, printers, or other non-personal electronic equipment, with a request at least ten business days before trial or hearing.
Specific authorization is required by prior Court Order. Any party seeking to bring such equipment into the Courthouse shall submit an Electronic Device Order ... to Chambers at least 10 business days in advance of the relevant trial or hearing.Judge Abrams's Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases ↗
Remote appearances
Courtwide
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Courtwide
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (45 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
A. Letters. Except as otherwise provided below, communications with the Court shall be by letter, filed electronically on ECF. Parties should not submit courtesy copies of letters filed on ECF. Letters containing sensitive or confidential information that cannot be filed on ECF in accordance with the procedures set forth in Paragraph 5 below may be emailed to the Court (Abrams_NYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov) as a text-searchable .pdf attachment with a copy simultaneously delivered to all counsel. Any such email shall state clearly in the subject line: (1) the caption of the case, including the lead party names and docket number, and (2) a brief description of the contents of the letter. Parties shall not include substantive communications in the body of the email; such communications shall be included only in the body of the attached letter. Unless the Court orders otherwise, letters may not exceed five (5) pages in length.
Source page 1Filing and working copies
Letters solely between parties or their counsel or otherwise not addressed to the Court may not be filed on ECF or otherwise sent to the Court (except as exhibits to an otherwise properly filed document).
Source page 1Communications with chambers
C. Faxes. Faxes to Chambers are permitted only with prior authorization. In such situations, faxed submissions must clearly identify the person in Chambers who authorized the sending of the fax, and copies must be simultaneously faxed, emailed, or delivered to all counsel.
Source page 1Adjournments
D. Requests for Adjournments or Extensions of Time. All requests for adjournments or extensions of time must be made in writing and filed on ECF as letter-motions. (If such request contains sensitive or confidential information, it may be submitted by email and served on opposing counsel.) The letter-motion must state: (1) the original due date, (2) the number of previous requests for adjournments or extensions of time, (3) whether
Source page 1Adjournments
these previous requests were granted or denied, and (4) whether the adversary consents, and, if not, the reasons given by the adversary for refusing to consent. If the requested adjournment or extension affects any other scheduled dates, a proposed Revised Scheduling Order must be included. If the request is for an adjournment of a court appearance, absent an emergency, the request shall be made at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled appearance.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
E. Related Cases. After an action has been accepted as related to a prior filing, all future court papers and correspondence must contain the docket number of the new filing, as well as the docket number of the case to which it is related (e.g., 11 Civ. 1234 [rel. 10 Civ.
Source page 2Conferences and appearances
2. Initial Case Management Conference. The Court will generally schedule a Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(c) conference within two (2) months of the filing of the Complaint. The Notice of Initial Pretrial Conference will be made available on ECF and the plaintiff’s counsel will be responsible for distributing copies to all parties. This Notice will direct the parties to submit on ECF a proposed Civil Case Management Plan and Scheduling Order and letter to the Court one week prior to the conference date. In accordance with the Electronic Case Filing Rules and Instructions, counsel are required to register as ECF filers and enter an appearance in the case before the initial pretrial conference. The pertinent instructions are available on the Court website at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/electronic-case-filing.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
3. Discovery Disputes. The parties shall follow Local Civil Rule 37.2 with the following modifications. Any party wishing to raise a discovery dispute with the Court must first confer in good faith with the opposing party, in person or by telephone, in an effort to resolve the dispute. If this meet-and-confer process does not resolve the dispute, the party may file on ECF a letter-motion to the Court, no longer than three (3) pages, explaining the nature of the dispute and requesting an informal conference. The letter-motion must include a representation that the meet-and-confer process occurred and was unsuccessful.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
If the opposing party wishes to respond, it must call Chambers within one (1) business day to advise that a responsive letter will be forthcoming, and its response shall be by letter to the Court not exceeding three pages within three (3) business days of the filing of the original letter-motion.
Source page 2Motion practice
A. Memoranda of Law. The formatting and length of motion papers must conform to Local Civil Rule 7.1 (or, in the case of a motion for reconsideration, Local Civil Rule 6.3). Per Local Civil Rule 7.1, memoranda of law in support of and in opposition to motions (except for motions for reconsideration) may not exceed 8,750 words, and reply briefs may not exceed 3,500 words. These limits do not include the caption, any index, table of contents, table of authorities, signature blocks, or any required certificates, but do include material contained in footnotes or endnotes. The party must also provide a certificate of compliance as required by Local Civil Rule 7.1(c). Memoranda of 3,500 words or more shall contain a table of contents and a table of authorities, and shall conform to Local Civil Rule 11.1. Sur-reply memoranda will not be accepted without prior permission of the Court.
Source page 2Motion practice
B. Courtesy Copies. Courtesy copies are not required unless the motion includes numerous exhibits and/or a voluminous record. Under such circumstances, one courtesy copy of all motion papers, marked as such, should be submitted to the Court by the movant at the time the reply is served, in accordance with the SDNY policies regarding mail deliveries.
Source page 3Motion practice
C. Motions to Dismiss. When a motion to dismiss is filed, the non-moving party must, within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the motion, notify the Court and its adversary in writing whether (i) it intends to file an amended pleading and when it shall do so, or (ii) it will rely on the pleading being attacked. This Rule does not alter the time to file a response provided by the Federal and Local Rules. If the plaintiff amends its pleading, any pending motion to dismiss is rendered moot, but the moving party may renew and refile its motion to dismiss based on the amended pleading.
Source page 3Motion practice
D. Motions for Summary Judgment. Except in pro se cases, the moving party shall provide all other parties with an electronic copy, in Word format, of the moving party’s Statement of Material Facts Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 56.1. The opposing party must reproduce each entry in the moving party’s Rule 56.1 Statement, admit or deny each entry, and set out its response directly beneath it. If the opposing party wishes to file its own, additional statement of material facts, it shall begin numbering each entry where the moving party left off.
Source page 3Adjournments
E. Letter-Motions. Letter-motions filed via ECF must comply with the S.D.N.Y. Local Rules and the S.D.N.Y. “Electronic Case Filing Rules and Instructions.” In particular, all requests for adjournments, extensions, and pre-motion conferences with respect to discovery disputes should be filed as letter-motions.
Source page 3Motion practice
F. Default Judgments. A plaintiff seeking a default judgment must proceed by way of a motion pursuant to the procedure set forth in Attachment A.
Source page 3Filing and working copies
“sensitive information” and information requiring “caution.” Parties should not include in their public filings, unless necessary, the five categories of “sensitive information” (i.e., Social Security numbers [use the last four digits only], names of minor children [use the initials only], dates of birth [use the year only], financial account numbers [use the last four digits only], and home addresses [use only the
Source page 3Filing and working copies
ii. Redactions and Sealed Filings Requiring Court Approval. Except for redactions permitted by the previous Paragraph, all redactions or sealing of public court filings require Court approval. To be approved, any redaction or sealing of a court filing must be narrowly tailored to serve whatever purpose justifies the redaction or sealing, and must be otherwise consistent with the presumption in favor of public access to judicial documents. See, e.g., Lugosch v.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
a. Meet and Confer. The party seeking leave to file sealed or redacted materials should meet and confer with any opposing party (or any third party seeking confidential treatment of the information) in advance to narrow the scope of the request. When a party seeks leave to file a document under seal or in redacted form on the ground that an opposing party or third party has requested it, the filing party shall notify the opposing party or third party that it must file, within three (3) days, a letter explaining the need to seal or redact the document.
Source page 4Motion practice
b. Sealed Document(s). The party shall electronically file a letter-motion seeking leave to file a document under seal on ECF in accordance with Standing Order 19-MC-583 and Section 6 of the S.D.N.Y. Electronic Case Filing Rules and Instructions. The letter-motion itself shall be filed in public view, should explain the reasons for seeking to file the document under seal, including why the request to seal is consistent with the test set forth in Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga, 435 F.3d 110 (2d Cir. 2006), and should not include confidential information. The proposed sealed document shall be separately and contemporaneously filed under seal on ECF (with the appropriate level of restriction) and electronically related to the motion (or to the relevant Court order if the Court previously granted leave to file the document under seal). Note that the summary docket text, but not the document itself, will be open to public inspection and, thus, the summary docket text should not include confidential information sought to be filed under seal.
Source page 4Motion practice
c. Redacted Document(s). Where a party seeks leave to file a document in redacted form, the party shall electronically file a letter-motion seeking leave to file a document in redacted form on ECF in accordance with Standing Order 19-MC-583 and Section 6 of the S.D.N.Y. Electronic Case Filing Rules and Instructions. The letter-motion itself shall be filed in public view, should explain the reasons for seeking to file the document in redacted form, including why the request for redaction is consistent with the test set forth in Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga, 435 F.3d 110 (2d Cir. 2006), and should not include confidential information. At the same time, the party shall (1) publicly file on ECF and electronically relate to the letter-motion a copy of the document with the proposed redactions; and (2) file under seal on ECF (with the appropriate level of restriction) and electronically relate to the motion an unredacted copy of the document with the proposed redactions highlighted.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
d. Submission by E-Mail. Any party unable to comply with the requirement for electronic filing under seal through the ECF system, or who believes that a particular document should not be electronically filed at all, shall file a letter-motion by e-mail, in accordance with Paragraph 1(A) above, seeking leave of the Court to file in a different manner.
Source page 5Conferences and appearances
B. Settlement Agreements. The Court will not retain jurisdiction to enforce confidential settlement agreements. If the parties wish that the Court retain jurisdiction to enforce a settlement agreement, the parties must place the terms of their agreement on the public record. The parties may either provide a copy of the settlement agreement for the Court to endorse or include the terms of their settlement agreement in their stipulation of settlement and dismissal.
Source page 5Communications with chambers
A. Joint Pretrial Order. Unless otherwise specified by the Court, within thirty (30) days after the close of discovery or if any dispositive motion is filed, within thirty (30) days from the Court’s decision on such motion, the parties shall submit a proposed joint pretrial order by email to Abrams_NYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov. The proposed joint pretrial order shall include the information required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3) and the
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
iii. a statement as to whether or not all parties have consented to trial by a magistrate judge, without identifying which parties do or do not consent;
Source page 5Trial exhibits and witnesses
x. a list by each party of exhibits to be offered in its case in chief, with an indication by exhibit number as to whether any party objects to the exhibit. The party objecting must include a brief statement that makes clear the basis for its objection and provide any necessary supporting authority;
Source page 6Filing and working copies
B. Additional Required Pretrial Filings in Jury Cases. At the time the joint pretrial order
Source page 6Motion practice
i. file and serve motions addressing any evidentiary issues or other matters which should be resolved in limine;
Source page 6Filing and working copies
iii. file joint proposed voir dire questions, a verdict form, and jury instructions. These joint submissions shall consist of single documents, jointly composed, noting any areas of disagreement between the parties. The voir dire questions and jury instructions shall include both the text of any requested question or instruction as well as a citation, if available, to the authority from which it derives. These
Source page 6Communications with chambers
documents should also be submitted by email to Chambers in Word format; and
Source page 7Communications with chambers
iv. submit to the Court and serve on opposing counsel, but not file on ECF, all documentary exhibits. Exhibits should be submitted to the Court both in hard copy and by email to Abrams_NYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov.
Source page 7Filing and working copies
C. Additional Required Pretrial Filings in Non-Jury Cases. At the time the joint pretrial
Source page 7Communications with chambers
iii. file and serve proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. The proposed findings of fact must be detailed and include citations to the proffered trial testimony and exhibits. These documents should also be submitted by email to Abrams_NYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov in Word format;
Source page 7Filing and working copies
iv. submit to the Court and serve on opposing counsel, but not file on ECF, copies of affidavits constituting the direct testimony of each trial witness, except for the direct testimony of an adverse party, a person whose attendance is compelled by subpoena, or a person for whom the Court has agreed to hear direct testimony live at the trial. Three business days after submission of such affidavits, counsel for each party shall submit a list of all affiants whom he or she intends to cross- examine at the trial. Only those witnesses who will be cross-examined need to appear at trial. The original signed affidavits shall be brought to trial to be marked as exhibits;
Source page 7Discovery
v. submit to the Court and serve on opposing counsel, but not file on ECF, all deposition excerpts which will be offered as substantive evidence, as well as a one-page synopsis of those excerpts for each deposition. Each synopsis shall include page citations to the pertinent pages of the deposition transcripts; and
Source page 7Communications with chambers
vi. submit to the Court and serve on opposing counsel, but not file on ECF, all documentary exhibits. Exhibits should be submitted to the Court both in hard copy and by email to Abrams_NYSDChambers@nysd.uscourts.gov.
Source page 7Filing and working copies
D. Filings in Opposition. Any party may file the following documents in opposition. These documents shall be filed no later than one (1) week after the filing of the pretrial order or
Source page 7Communications with chambers
E. Courtesy Copies. Two courtesy copies of all documents identified in Sections 6(A)–(D) above shall be submitted to Chambers on the date on which they are to be served or filed. Voluminous material may be organized either in binders or manila file folders, but in any event, the courtesy copies shall be separately arranged into two independent sets.
Source page 8Trial exhibits and witnesses
F. Exhibits. All exhibits must be pre-marked in advance of trial. If counsel intend to distribute copies of documentary exhibits to the jury, they are to make a separate copy for each juror. Counsel shall make certain that they have custody of all original exhibits. The Court does not retain them and the Clerk is not responsible for them.
Source page 8Communications with chambers
A. Mobile Phones and Personal Electronic Devices. Attorneys’ use of mobile phones and other personal electronic devices within the Courthouse and its environs is governed by Standing Order M10-468. Any attorney wishing to bring a telephone or other personal electronic device into the Courthouse must be a member of this Court’s Bar, must obtain the necessary service pass from the District Executive’s Office, and must show the service pass upon entering the Courthouse. Mobile phones are permitted inside the Courtroom, but must be kept turned off at all times. Non-compliance with this rule will result in forfeiture of the device for the remainder of the proceedings.
Source page 8Courtroom conduct and technology
B. Computers, Printers, or Other Electronic Equipment. In order for an attorney to bring into the Courthouse any computer, printer, or other electronic equipment not qualifying as a “personal electronic device,” specific authorization is required by prior Court Order.
Source page 8Communications with chambers
Any party seeking to bring such equipment into the Courthouse shall submit an Electronic Device Order, available at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2018-06/standing- order-electronic-devices.pdf, to Chambers at least 10 business days in advance of the relevant trial or hearing requesting permission to use such equipment. The request letter shall identify the type(s) of equipment to be used and the name(s) of the attorney(s) who will be using the equipment. Chambers will coordinate with the District Executive’s Office to issue the Order and forward a copy to counsel. The Order must be shown upon bringing the equipment into the Courthouse.
Source page 8Motion practice
1. A plaintiff seeking a default judgment must proceed by filing on ECF a motion for default judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2) and Local Civil Rule 55.2. A plaintiff seeking a default judgment should not proceed by order to show cause.
Source page 9Filing and working copies
2. Before seeking a default judgment, a plaintiff must seek the entry of default under Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a) by filing a “Request to Enter Default” and other supporting papers consistent with Local Civil Rule 55.1.
Source page 9Communications with chambers
F. A certificate of service stating that all documents in support of the request for default judgment, including the “Clerk’s Certificate of Default” and any papers required by Local Civil Rule 55.2, have been personally served on, or mailed to the last known residence (for an individual defendant) or business address (for other defendants) of, the party against whom default judgment is sought. If the mailing is returned, a supplemental certificate of service must be filed setting forth that fact, together with the reason provided for return, if any.
Source page 10Motion practice
5. If the Court issues such an order, the plaintiff should be prepared to serve on the defendant (a) a conforming copy of the motion and supporting papers and (b) the Court’s order setting the date and time for the default judgment hearing.
Source page 10Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Dover Town Court
State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-2722 NYCRR Part 214 — Uniform Civil Rules Justice Courts
Dover Town Court
Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27SDNY and EDNY — Joint Local Civil and Criminal Rules
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Federal district-court proceedings only. Civil and criminal sections have distinct scope and district-specific exceptions. Not Bankruptcy Court rules.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Dover Town 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
Dover Town 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 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · Federal Judicial Center Biographical Directory · effective March 23, 2012 · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Federal Judicial Center biography ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · CourtListener / Free Law Project · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Judge Abrams's Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases
Judge Specific source · PDF · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York · effective January 16, 2025 · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Judge Abrams's Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases ↗Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Courtwide source · HTML · Supreme Court of the United States and Judicial Conference of the United States · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗