--- title: "Steven W. Paynter | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/steven-w-paynter-ny-trial-fe0e2a52" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Steven W. Paynter Supreme Court, Queens County, Criminal Term · Justice ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court, Queens County, Criminal Term - State: New York - Role: Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Justice, Supreme Court, Queens County, Elected, 2008 to 2021 - Justice, New York Supreme Court, Queens County, New York, NY, 2008-2021 - Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 1996-2007 - Assistant District Attorney, Queens County, New York, NY, 1991-1995 - Court Attorney, Acting Justice Anthony P. Savarese, 1988-1991 - Assistant District Attorney, Queens County District Attorney's Office, NY, 1981-1988 - The Scrutinize report notes that these reversals often stem from findings that the trial court judge erred in denying suppression, potentially indicating a bias toward law enforcement in certain cases ### Education - Steven William Paynter obtained a B.A. from Manhattan College and an M.A. from Fordham University, followed by a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. ### Additional information - He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1981. - Current court assignment: Queens County Supreme Court - Criminal Term - Before becoming a judge, Paynter worked in the Queens District Attorney’s Office - Assigned to the Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens, NY, and is known for almost exclusively handling evidence-suppression hearings in criminal cases - Practice areas: While primarily a trial judge, his background includes experience in civil, transportation, and real estate law before judicial service ## 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://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=uIKHY7uv5NRmo2pZZA8Unw%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=uIKHY7uv5NRmo2pZZA8Unw%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=uIKHY7uv5NRmo2pZZA8Unw%3D%3D) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15005/steven-w-paynter/) - [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) - [New York State Unified Court System judicial profile or roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=uIKHY7uv5NRmo2pZZA8Unw%3D%3D) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15005/steven-w-paynter/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/steven-w-paynter-ny-trial-fe0e2a52", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/steven-w-paynter-ny-trial-fe0e2a52", "name": "Steven W. 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[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.