Sheila A. DiTullio at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Sheila A. DiTullio
Judge · Erie County County Court
Biography
Professional career
- Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, Erie County, NY, 2008-present
- As of late 2025, reports indicate Judge DiTullio is set to retire after three decades on the bench, ending a career marked by both high‐stakes criminal trials and restorative justice work
- She has been recognized for balancing justice with mercy, as seen in a 2025 case where she vacated a 25‐to‐life sentence for second‐degree murder and imposed a 12‐year determinate sentence for Patrice Smith, citing the victim’s history of abuse and the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act
- Judge, New York County Court, Erie County, NY, 2016-2025
- Judge, County Court, Erie County, elected, 1995 to 2005; re-elected, 2005 to 2015, 2016 to 2025
- Supervising Judge, Criminal Court of the City of New York, NY, 2011-2016
- Judge, New York County Court, Erie County, NY, 2005-2015
- Judge, New York County Court, Erie County, New York, NY, 1995-2005
- Assistant District Attorney, Erie County District Attorney's Office, 1980-1996
- Associate Judge, Assistant Attorney General, 1986-1988
- Judge DiTullio presided over major criminal cases in Erie County for over 30 years
- Current/Former Role: Judge, Erie County Court, Buffalo, NY
Education
- Western New England University — J.D. (1980)
- Houghton College — B.A. (1977)
Additional information
- Board Member, Indigent Legal Services Board, 2011-present
- prof, University at Buffalo, 1992-2011
- Current court assignment: County Court, Erie County
- Retired Erie County Court judge in Buffalo, New York, known for her work in criminal law, environmental law, and notable high-profile cases over a three-decade career
- she found the most rewarding cases involving defendants who “turned their lives around”
- Birth place: Lockport, NY
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
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Erie County County 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
Erie County County Court
Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Erie County County 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
Erie County County 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 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System 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 ↗