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title: "William D. Cohen | KnowJudges"
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# William D. Cohen

Supreme Court of Vermont · Justice

## Profile

- Court: Supreme Court of Vermont
- State: Vermont
- Role: Justice
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Vermont Supreme Court associate justice; appointed by Governor Phil Scott on December 5, 2019, to succeed Marilyn Skoglund, sworn in December 20, 2019, and confirmed by the Senate in April 2020
- Vermont Superior Court judge, 1999–2019; appointed by Governor Howard Dean and served in criminal, civil and family divisions in Rutland and Bennington.
- Rutland County deputy state's attorney, 1984–1986

### Education

- Vermont Law School — J.D. (1984)
- in environmental science, George Washington University — B.A. (1980)

### Additional information

- Retired December 27, 2025.
- Private civil litigator, 1986–1999
- Rutland High School, 1975.
- Born January 21, 1957, in Queens, New York, and raised in Rutland.
- Married to Barbara Kinsman Buck; children Alix, in San Francisco, and Robert, in Vermont.
- Endurance athlete who bikes, skis and runs.

## 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

### digital evidence submission

Scope: statewide

Vermont Judiciary directs users to upload non-flat-PDF digital exhibits, including audio, video, and active hyperlinks, through its Digital Evidence Portal; flat PDFs should not be filed in that portal.

Evidence excerpt: The Digital Evidence Portal is to be used solely for uploading exhibits in file formats other than flat PDF format. Examples ... include audio recordings, video recordings, or active hyperlinks to web-based content. Flat PDF files should not be filed in the Digital Evidence Portal.

[Vermont Judiciary Digital Evidence Portal](https://evidence.vermontjudiciary.org/TraQ7/account/caseuser)
Source checked: 2026-07-27


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/JOURNAL/ja230328.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/JOURNAL/ja230328.pdf)
- [Vermont General Assembly official judicial roster](https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2024/Docs/JOURNAL/ja230328.pdf)
- [Vermont Judiciary Digital Evidence Portal](https://evidence.vermontjudiciary.org/TraQ7/account/caseuser)
- [STATE OF VERMONT](https://www.vtcourts.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Memo%20to%20Bar%20from%20JNB%20-%20Information%20Concerning%20Associate%20Justice%20Vacancy.pdf)
- [Vermont Supreme Court Justice Cohen to Retire in December – Vermont Bar Association](https://www.vtbar.org/vermont-supreme-court-justice-cohen-to-retire-in-december/)

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