--- title: "Valerie A. Pels | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-a-pels" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Valerie A. Pels New York County Family Court · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: New York County Family Court - State: New York - Role: Family 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, Family Court of the City of New York, Reappointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio, 2021 to Present - Judge, Family Court of the City of New York, Bronx County, Appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, 2013 to 2021 - NYS Unified Court System, Principal Law Clerk, 2000 to 2012 ### Education - Yale Law School — J.D. (1990) - Duke University — B.A. (1987) - Undergraduate degree from Duke University and her J.D. from Yale Law School ### Additional information - Bench for over 14 years and was most recently appointed to a term from 2021 to 2031 by Mayor Bill de Blasio, reflecting her continued service in the New York judicial system - Valerie Pels was first appointed to the New York County Family Court in January 2013 by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and has continued her judicial service through subsequent appointments - Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Division, Attorney, 1991 to 2000 - She was admitted to practice law in New York State in 1991 - Served in the Juvenile Rights Division of the Legal Aid Society, served as a principal law clerk in the Youth Part of the New York Supreme Court, and contributed to the Integrated Domestic Violence Part of the Supreme Court - Before her appointment to the bench, Pels worked extensively in juvenile and family law - Her tenure reflects experience in both family law and youth-related cases, making her a recognized figure in New York’s Family Court system - Her office is located at 60 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013, and she is registered with the Office of Court Administration (OCA) of New York State Unified Court System Judge Pels’ career highlights her dedication to family and juvenile law, combining extensive legal experience with a long-standing judicial role in New York County ## 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=bsr_PLUS_WW4dRzYwv800fhC5AQ%3D%3D) - [Official roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=bsr_PLUS_WW4dRzYwv800fhC5AQ%3D%3D) - [New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=bsr_PLUS_WW4dRzYwv800fhC5AQ%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) - [Judicial Directory: Hon. Valerie Pels](https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=bsr_PLUS_WW4dRzYwv800fhC5AQ%3D%3D) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-a-pels", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-a-pels", "name": "Valerie A. Pels | KnowJudges", "description": "Valerie A. Pels, New York County Family 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/valerie-a-pels#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-a-pels#judge", "name": "Valerie A. Pels", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-a-pels", "jobTitle": "Family Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "New York County Family Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/judicialdirectory/Bio?judge_id=bsr_PLUS_WW4dRzYwv800fhC5AQ%3D%3D" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Duke University" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Yale Law School" } ] }, { "@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": "Valerie A. Pels", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/valerie-a-pels" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 205 — Uniform Rules Family Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-df42937f9fd0e92b8072) — Family Court proceedings [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-205-uniform-rules-family-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.