--- title: "Sandra L. Townes | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sandra-l-townes-3249" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Sandra L. Townes U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York - State: New York - Role: Judge - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, E.D. New York, 2004-present - Sandra L. Townes (1944–2018) was a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, nominated by President George W. Bush in 2004 and confirmed by the Senate 95–0, serving until her death in 2018 - Associate justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, 2001-2004 - Justice, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Fifth Judicial District, 2000-2004 - Adjunct professor, Onondaga Community College, 1992-2001 - Judge, Syracuse New York City Court, 1988-1999 - Adjunct professor, Syracuse University College of Law, 1987-1995 - Assistant district attorney, Onondaga County, NY, 1977-1987 - Employed at the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office for ten years, as an assistant district attorney (1977-1983), senior assistant district attorney (1983-1986), and chief assistant district attorney (1986-1987) ### Education - Johnson C. Smith University ### Additional information - Date of birth: 1944-01-01 - Notable fact: She was the first Black woman appointed to the Eastern District of New York’s federal bench - She was recognized for her legal scholarship and service on state and local bar committees - Birth place: Spartanburg, SC ## 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 ### 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://www.courtlistener.com/person/3249/sandra-l-townes/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3249/sandra-l-townes/) - [U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3249/sandra-l-townes/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3249/sandra-l-townes/) - [Sandra L. Townes - Historical Society of the New York Courts](https://history.nycourts.gov/biography/sandra-l-townes) - [Townes, Sandra L. | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/townes-sandra-l) - [Wikidata: Sandra L. Townes](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7416671) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sandra-l-townes-3249", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sandra-l-townes-3249", "name": "Sandra L. Townes | KnowJudges", "description": "Sandra L. Townes, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. 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