Rowan D. Wilson at a glance
- Current role
- Chief Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Rowan D. Wilson
Chief Judge · New York Court of Appeals
Biography
Professional career
- Nominated by Governor Andrew Cuomo as an associate judge of the New York Court of Appeals on January 15, 2017, and confirmed by the New York State Senate on February 6, 2017
- He then joined Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City as an associate in 1986 and became a partner in 1991, practicing for over 30 years
- After law school, Wilson clerked for Judge James R. Browning of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1984 to 1986.
- The first African-American chief judge in the court’s history
Education
- Harvard Law School in, cum laude, where he held the role of an editor of the Harvard Civil Rights–Civil Liberties Law Review — J.D. (1984)
Additional information
- Following the retirement of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and the rejection of a prior nominee, Wilson was nominated by Governor Kathy Hochul for Chief Judge on April 10, 2023, confirmed by the Senate on April 18, 2023, and sworn in on September 12, 2023.
- Sworn in on June 1, 2017.
- Both of his parents were schoolteachers, and his mother was blind, which shaped his early life experiences and values.
- His work spanned antitrust, intellectual property, securities, contract, labor, civil rights, and First Amendment law.
- He also led the firm’s pro bono practice and served on boards such as the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
New York Court of Appeals — Part 500 Rules of Practice
New York Court of Appeals
New York State Court of Appeals proceedings only; not federal appeals or Appellate Division proceedings.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
New York Court of Appeals
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 Court of Appeals
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 August 22, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 22, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System 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 ↗