--- title: "William E. Garnett | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-e-garnett-14745" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # William E. Garnett New York Supreme Court, Kings County · Acting Justice ## Profile - Court: New York Supreme Court, Kings County - State: New York - Role: Acting Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, Kings County, New York, NY, 2002-present - Acting Justice, Criminal Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 2002-present - 2002–present: Acting Justice, Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term - Acting Justice, New York Supreme Court, Richmond County, New York, NY, 2019-2029 - 2019–2029: Acting Justice, Richmond County Supreme Court (per CourtListener) - Judge, Criminal Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 2010-2019 - After Justice Stephen J. Rooney recused himself, Garnett heard arguments from both sides and, on March 19, 2015, denied the request, citing lack of “compelling and particularized need” - Judge, Criminal Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 2000-2009 - Acting Justice of the Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Second Judicial District of New York, appointed in 2002 by former Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman - 1991–2002: Judge, Criminal Court of the City of New York, appointed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani - Judge, Criminal Court of the City of New York, New York, NY, 1991-1999 - District Attorney, Office of the Richmond County District Attorney, NY, 1982-1991 - Assistant District Attorney, Office of the Kings County District Attorney, New York, NY, 1976-1982 - William E. Garnett’s career spans over three decades in New York’s criminal justice system — from prosecutor to judge — with a focus on criminal law and high-profile public interest cases ### Education - New York University — LL.M. (1988) - B.A. — Fordham University in 1973, his J.D. degree from the Brooklyn School of Law in 1976, and his L.L.M. degree from the New York University School of Law in 1988 ### Additional information - lists Garnett with AV Preeminent® peer ratings, reflecting the highest level of professional excellence for legal knowledge, communication skills, and ethical standards ## 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://www.courtlistener.com/person/14745/william-e-garnett/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14745/william-e-garnett/) - [New York Supreme Court, Kings County current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14745/william-e-garnett/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14745/william-e-garnett/) - [William E. Garnett - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/William_E._Garnett) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-e-garnett-14745", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-e-garnett-14745", "name": "William E. Garnett | KnowJudges", "description": "William E. Garnett, New York Supreme Court, Kings County. 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/william-e-garnett-14745#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-e-garnett-14745#judge", "name": "William E. 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Garnett", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-e-garnett-14745" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [22 NYCRR Part 200 — Uniform Rules Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-5e0f997e8c334d15fbc4) — State criminal proceedings only; section-specific court and case exceptions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction). Collected 2026-10-27. - [22 NYCRR Part 202 — Uniform Civil Rules Supreme Court And County Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/ny-shared-set-bf1c7eb9020e52eed65d) — Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable. [Official source](https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-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.