Stephen W. Cass at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2029
Stephen W. Cass
Supreme Court Justice · Chautauqua County Supreme Court
Public docket analytics load when this section is opened.
Biography
Professional career
- Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, Chautauqua County, 2002-present
- Practitioner, Lodestro, Cass, Vanstron & Edwards, Partner, NY, 1995-1999
- Justice, New York Justice Court, South Valley, NY, 1995-1999
- Justice, New York Justice Court, Carroll, NY, 1993-1999
Education
- Albany Law School — J.D. (1998)
- Allegheny College — B.A. (1985)
Additional information
- Surrogate, New York Supreme Court, Chautauqua County, NY, 2010-2019
- Surrogate, New York Supreme Court, Chautauqua County, NY, 2000-2009
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 ↗
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.
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 ↗
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.
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 ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
For Commercial Division matters, New York rules encourage Virtual Evidence Courtrooms for managing and presenting trial evidence after authorization by request or court direction.
Virtual Evidence Courtrooms (VECs) may be used to facilitate real-time access to trial exhibits and other relevant documents.Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗
Statewide
For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Judge and named-part rules
Published judge / part rules (20 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
Motions/OTSC are heard Monday mornings beginning at 10:30 am at half hour intervals. At this time (7/12/21) all motions and orders to show cause will be heard in person unless otherwise arranged. Emergency matters may be heard at other times as specifically arranged by Chambers.
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Notices of Motion: Notices of Motion must be filed in NYSCEF unless the case is exempt from NYSCEF. Prior to filing the Notice of Motion in NYSCEF, counsel must contact Chambers to confirm a return date and time. If the motion is to be heard virtually counsel will be given a telephone number and conference
Source page 1Communications with chambers
“This matter will be heard by the Court virtually via Microsoft Teams. Parties shall appear telephonically by calling __________________________ and when prompted entering conference ID _____________________________ or by calling chambers at 716-753-4337 and providing an email address and a Microsoft Teams invite will be sent to the party’s email address to appear virtually.”
Source page 1Communications with chambers
Orders to Show Cause: Pursuant to 22 NYCRR 202-8d, Orders to Show Cause may only be brought when there is a genuine urgency, a stay is required or as required by statute. Orders to Show Cause must be presented by movant’s attorney to the Court via NYSCEF unless the case is exempt from NYSCEF. Counsel must contact chambers prior to filing the proposed order to show cause to obtain a return date and time. The Court will insert the Microsoft Teams telephone number and conference ID into the OTSC at the time the Court signs the OTSC, if the matter is to be heard virtually.
Source page 2Motion practice
Counsel should consult 22 NYCRR 202-8a to ensure motions and all accompanying documents comply with the rule.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
Orders to Show Cause: The movant must pay the filing fee for the OTSC in the County Clerk’s office and then provide Chambers will the original “Paid” stamped, OTSC and one copy. After the OTSC is signed, the original must be filed in the County Clerk’s office.
Source page 2Communications with chambers
All answering papers and other moving papers must be filed through NYSCEF by Thursday at 4:30 pm or at least one business day prior to the return date. If the case is exempt from NYSCEF, reply to papers must be submitted directly to Chambers.
Source page 2Motion practice
Counsel should review 22 NYCRR 208-08a to ensure all motions, orders to show cause and accompanying documents comply with the rule.
Source page 2Adjournments
ADJOURNMENTS: Motions and Orders to Show Cause will not be adjourned without prior approval by chambers. Counsel seeking an adjournment should first contact the court for potential adjournment dates then contact opposing counsel
Source page 2Adjournments
to reach a mutually acceptable adjournment date. If opposing counsel consent to an adjournment date, counsel should notify the Court via email and copy opposing counsel.
Source page 3Adjournments
1. Preliminary Conferences: 22 NYCRR 202.12(b) requires that a Preliminary Conference be held within 45 days of the filing of the RJI for a matrimonial action. Remember this time frame when requesting adjournments. Financial Affidavits (236B) and Retainer Agreements MUST filed in NYSCEF at least 48 hours prior to the Preliminary Conference.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
2. Pre-Trial Conferences: Statements of Proposed Disposition must be filed in NYSCEF at least 48 hours prior to the Pre-Trial Conference.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
3. If a case is resolved by stipulation of the parties, the matter WILL NOT be taken off the calendar until the Court receives a signed copy of the stipulation. Since this usually occurs on the eve of trial, stipulations must be emailed directly to chambers.
Source page 3Filing and working copies
4. When Judgments of Divorce provide for the full continuation of Family Court orders (custody/visitation or child support), the Judgment must reference the Docket number(s) and Date(s) of Family Court orders, and copies of said orders must be filed with the divorce packet/judgment roll.
Source page 3Filing and working copies
5. When an oral default is put on the record, the transcript of the default must be filed with the record; however, DO NOT attach the default transcript to the Judgment of Divorce.
Source page 3Conferences and appearances
6. When a stipulation of settlement is placed on the record or if the case is settled by written stipulation of the parties, a transcript of the oral stipulation or the written stipulation MUST be filed in NYSCEF with the judgment of divorce. Where the case has been settled by oral stipulation, the Affidavit of Appearance and Adoption of Oral Stipulation MUST be Filed in NYSCEF with the judgment of divorce.
Source page 3Communications with chambers
9. CPLR 306-b: Where service of the Summons with Notice or Summons and Complaint has not been effected within 120 days of filing with the County Clerk’s Office, you must obtain the Court’s permission to extend the time for service for “good cause shown”. This can be done on the papers without the necessity of counsel’s appearance, on ex parte notice of motion and payment of the necessary motion filed fee.
Source page 4Filing and working copies
13. Direct Pay orders or through Support Enforcement Unit: Any proposed judgment of divorce should state whether child support is by way of direct pay or through the Support Enforcement Unit. If the order is by direct pay, counsel must file the necessary form with the State Case Registry in Albany and provide the Court with a copy of the form and letter of filing. If payments are to be made through the Support Enforcement Unit, the proposed judgment must contain a provision directing the filing of a copy of the judgment with the Support Enforcement Unit.
Source page 5Motion practice
1. If one form of relief requested in an Order to Show Cause is an order of protection PRIOR to the return date of the Order to Show Cause, counsel should have the client available at the time the Court signs the Order to Show Cause to present testimony on the issue. If the Order to Show Cause seeks an order of protection upon the return date of the Order to Show Cause, counsel should have the client available on the return date to
Source page 5Motion practice
Those QDROs (or DROs) submitted with the Judgment of Divorce or within one year after entry do not require a motion. However, they do require either the opposing counsel’s approval (or litigant’s approval if pro se) or proper notice and default, with proof provided to the Court of same. Those presented greater than one year after entry require a formal motion, on notice, to the opposing party, with proof provided to the Court. A motion fee is not required.
Source page 6Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Chautauqua County Supreme 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
Chautauqua County Supreme 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
Chautauqua County Supreme 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
Chautauqua County Supreme 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 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory 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 ↗Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction ↗