--- title: "Sanford A. Church | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sanford-a-church" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Sanford A. Church Orleans County County Court · County Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Orleans County County Court - State: New York - Role: County Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge for the Orleans County Court Multi-Bench in the Eighth Judicial District of New York, having been elected to the County Court bench in 2017 to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of James Punch - Orleans County, Public Defender, 1997 to 2017 - Church & Church, Attys, Attorney/Owner, 1989 to 2017 - Genesee County Family Court, Court Attorney, 1989 to 2000 - Additionally, he served as a court attorney for the Genesee County Family Court and the Orleans County Court between 1985 and 2000 - Orleans County Multi-Hat, Court Attorney, 1985 to 1988 - He also held the role of a public defender for Orleans County for about 20 years ### Education - B.A. from Wake Forest University in 1980 and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 1984. ### Additional information - Registered Republican and is currently serving a 10-year term that began in 2018 and will end in 2027. - Prior to his election, Church practiced law at his family firm, Church and Church, in Albion, New York, which has been run by the Church family since 1903. - representing low-income clients facing felony charges. - Recent cases under his jurisdiction include mortgage foreclosures, inmate petitions, and disputes involving religious or not-for-profit property. - Recognized for his extensive legal experience and for bringing a measured, knowledgeable approach to the bench - After completing his law degree, he returned to Albion to join his family practice rather than pursuing a career at a large law firm - J.D. — Duke Univ. - His family has a long legal legacy in Albion, including Sanford E. Church, who held the role of district attorney, lieutenant governor, state comptroller, and chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals ## 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 ### trial exhibit books Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### exhibit marking Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### electronic appearances Scope: statewide For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=FEAvOwwHUTgPb7qaCrdmUQ%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=FEAvOwwHUTgPb7qaCrdmUQ%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=FEAvOwwHUTgPb7qaCrdmUQ%3D%3D) - [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) - [Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court) - [Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. Sanford A. Church](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=FEAvOwwHUTgPb7qaCrdmUQ%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sanford-a-church", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sanford-a-church", "name": "Sanford A. Church | KnowJudges", "description": "Sanford A. Church, Orleans County County Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sanford-a-church#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sanford-a-church#judge", "name": "Sanford A. Church", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sanford-a-church", "jobTitle": "County Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Orleans County County Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=FEAvOwwHUTgPb7qaCrdmUQ%3D%3D" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Wake Forest University" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Duke Univ. School of Law" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "New York", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/new-york" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sanford A. Church", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sanford-a-church" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-5e0f997e8c334d15fbc4) — State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction). Collected 2026-10-27. - [22 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-bf1c7eb9020e52eed65d) — Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-court). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-99a7824bb8e009643f842c03) — 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](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). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-34fe480ab82f22fa3c31d257) — 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](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). Collected 2026-07-26.