Zainab Chaudhry at a glance
- Current role
- Court of Claims Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2027
Zainab Chaudhry
Court of Claims Judge · Albany County Court of Claims
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, New York State Court of Claims, Albany County, Appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul, 2022 to 2027
- Judge Zainab A. Chaudhry is a New York State Court of Claims judge appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul on June 3, 2022, becoming the first Muslim judge ever appointed to that court
- NYS Unified Court System, New York State Court of Appeals, Principal Court Attorney, 2019 to 2022
- New York State Office of the Attorney General, Assistant Solicitor General, 2007 to 2019
- NYS Unified Court System, New York State Court of Appeals, Principal Law Clerk, The Honorable Richard C. Wesley, Former Associate Judge, 2000 to 2002
- NYS Unified Court System, New York State Court of Appeals, Senior Court Attorney, Central Legal Research Staff, 1998 to 2000
Education
- Albany Law School — J.D. (1998)
- Union College — B.S. (1993)
Additional information
- Law clerk at the New York State Court of Appeals, including service with Judge Richard C. Wesley
- Judge Zainab A. Chaudhry is a prominent New York jurist known for her trailblazing role in state judiciary diversity.
- Her appointment is widely regarded as historic for representation of Muslim and South Asian Americans in the New York judiciary
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Courtroom Technology
Courtwide
The New York Court of Claims publishes courtroom evidence-presentation technology, including document/photo/object/video presentation and laptop connections in specified courtrooms.
With minimal effort, attorneys can present documents, color photos, objects, videos, and use electronic presentations to bring details to the court.Court of Claims Courtroom Technology ↗
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 206 — Uniform Rules Court Claims
New York Court of Claims
Court of Claims actions and proceedings
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
New York Court of Claims
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
New York Court of Claims
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 ↗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 ↗Court of Claims Courtroom Technology
Courtwide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Court of Claims Courtroom Technology ↗