Judge John J. Kelley
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Court-wideProposed Order
Court-wide
Communication
Clerk
Phone
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideIntake Unit
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
Proposed jury charges and verdict sheets must be emailed to the Court in editable MS Word .doc or .docx format.
All proposed jury charges and proposed verdict sheets shall be emailed to the Court (lagoldbe@nycourts.gov and hbarry@nycourts.gov) in an editable MS Word (.doc or .docx) format.
Document Filing Requirements6 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
Before the mediation-style settlement conference, the parties must submit a short written statement of the action's underlying facts to the Part 56 Part Clerk.
Prior to the two-hour mediation-style settlement conference, the parties shall submit, to the Part 56 Part Clerk, a short written statement of the facts underlying the action, and all parties shall inform the court of their estimation of the full value of the action if liability is proven, with citations to appellate precedent determining the fair and reasonable value of the injuries claimed by the plaintiff, without set-offs for comparative fault or collateral sources.
Document Type
Settlement Conference Fact Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
Counsel must provide the court with an ordered list of potential trial witnesses, including experts.
Counsel shall provide to the court a list of potential witnesses in order in which they intend to call them at trial, including expert witnesses.
Document Type
Potential Witness List
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
Counsel must submit motions in limine and trial memoranda in writing no later than the first day of jury selection.
Counsel shall submit motions in limine and trial memoranda in writing to the court as directed but, in any event, not later than the first day of jury selection.
Document Type
Motion In Limine
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
The parties must submit proposed verdict sheets and requests to charge by the start of the second trial day, preferably before trial begins.
The parties shall submit proposed verdict sheets and requests to charge (subject to amendment), citing the PJI sections, preferably before the commencement of trial, but not later than the start of the second day.
Document Type
Proposed Verdict Sheet
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026Mandatory
Any suggested changes to a PJI must be submitted by email to the Justice’s law clerks as the full text with all changes red-lined in Word format.
If any changes to the PJI are suggested, counsel must submit the full text with all changes red-lined in Word format by email to the Justice’s law clerks.
Document Type
Proposed Jury Charges
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Important?
If counsel relies on a Pattern Jury Instruction [PJI] without change, it should be referred to by PJI number and topic, only.
Summary: An unchanged Pattern Jury Instruction should be identified only by its PJI number and topic.
Document Type
Proposed Jury Charges
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
A stipulated adjournment of a motion or special proceeding must be uploaded as a signed writing to NYSCEF with the prescribed drop-down designation.
If the parties stipulate to adjourn the initial return date of a motion initiated by notice of motion, or a special proceeding initiated by notice of petition, they shall upload a signed written stipulation to the NYSCEF system and choose the following designation from the drop-down menu: “stipulation-adjournment of motion-submissions part-rm 130.”
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 2 | II. Motions
A stipulation to amend the case caption must be uploaded to NYSCEF and emailed to the Part Clerk with a request that the court so order it.
Stipulations to amend the caption in an action shall be uploaded to NYSCEF and emailed to the Part Clerk with a request that the court “so order” the stipulation.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 3 | III. Stipulations Other Than for Adjournments
A discontinuance stipulation lacking some required signatures must be uploaded to NYSCEF and mailed or emailed to the Part 56 Part Clerk with a request that the court so order it.
Stipulations of discontinuance that are signed by fewer than the attorneys for all parties and all unrepresented parties shall be uploaded to NYSCEF and mailed or emailed to the Part 56 Part Clerk with a request that the court “so order” the stipulation.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 3 | III. Stipulations Other Than for Adjournments
A discontinuance stipulation signed by every represented party's attorney and every unrepresented party must be uploaded to NYSCEF.
Stipulations of discontinuance signed by attorneys for all parties and all unrepresented parties in an action shall be uploaded to NYSCEF.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 3 | III. Stipulations Other Than for Adjournments
Parties must not upload a proposed discovery conference order to NYSCEF.
The parties shall not upload any proposed discovery conference order to NYSCEF.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 4 | V. Discovery Conferences and Disputes
A request for a so-ordered subpoena requires uploading the proposed subpoena to NYSCEF and mailing or emailing it to the Part 56 Part Clerk with a request that the court so order it.
If an attorney or unrepresented party seeks a so-ordered subpoena, the proposed subpoena shall be uploaded to NYSCEF and mailed or emailed to the Part 56 Part Clerk with a request that the court “so order” the subpoena.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 4 | IV. So-Ordered Subpoenas
Motions in limine must be emailed directly to the Justice’s law clerks rather than uploaded to NYSCEF.
Motions in limine shall not be uploaded to NYSCEF, but emailed directly to the Justice’s law clerks.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 7 | VIII. Trial Preparation
An attorney who learns of a client's death must promptly notify the Part Clerk and upload the death certificate to NYSCEF when it becomes available.
If an attorney learns that his or her client has died, the attorney shall forthwith notify the Part Clerk of the client’s death and the date of death, if known, and upload a death certificate to NYSCEF when available.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 10 | X. Death of a Party
A signed so-ordered subpoena may be uploaded to NYSCEF and emailed to the requesting attorney or unrepresented party, or must be retrieved in court as directed.
If the court signs the subpoena, the signed copy may be uploaded to NYSCEF, and also may be emailed to the attorney or unrepresented party requesting it, or shall be retrieved in the courtroom by that attorney or unrepresented party, as the court directs.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 4 | IV. So-Ordered Subpoenas
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The submission of motions in limine and trial memoranda is due by the first day of jury selection.
Counsel shall submit motions in limine and trial memoranda in writing to the court as directed but, in any event, not later than the first day of jury selection.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 7 | VIII. Trial Preparation
Proposed verdict sheets and requests to charge are due no later than the start of the second trial day.
The parties shall submit proposed verdict sheets and requests to charge (subject to amendment), citing the PJI sections, preferably before the commencement of trial, but not later than the start of the second day.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 8 | IX. Trial
For nonjury trials, the parties must submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law within 10 calendar days after the record closes unless the court directs otherwise.
For nonjury trials, the parties shall submit proposed findings of facts and conclusions of law within 10 calendar days of the close of the record, unless otherwise directed by the court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 10 | Nonjury trials
Within 15 days after entry of a so-ordered caption-amendment stipulation, a party as directed by the court must serve the Trial Support Office through NYSCEF and separately file and upload a second copy with the required CPLR 8019(c) notice on Form EF-22.
After the court “so orders” the stipulation, one of the parties, as will be directed by the court in the so-ordered stipulation, shall, within 15 days of the entry of the so-ordered stipulation, serve a copy of the so-ordered stipulation upon the Trial Support Office by uploading it to NYSCEF under the document title “SERVICE ON SUPREME COURT CLERK (GENL CLERK) W/COPY OF ORDER” and shall separately file and upload a second copy of the stipulation along with the notice required by CPLR 8019(c) on a completed Form EF-22 under the document title “NOTICE TO COUNTY CLERK CPLR 8019(C),” whereupon the Trial Support Office and the County Clerk shall amend the court records accordingly.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 3 | III. Stipulations Other Than for Adjournments
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
A motion or special proceeding may be initiated by order to show cause only when a statute requires it or emergency interim relief is sought.
A motion or special proceeding shall only be initiated by order to show cause where required by statute (see, e.g., CPLR 321[b][2], 5015[a]) or where emergency interim relief is sought.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | II. Motions
Until further notice, motions are decided on papers without oral argument, except motions to relieve counsel, which require remote oral argument through Microsoft Teams.
Until further notice, all motions shall be submitted and considered on papers only, without oral argument, except motions to be relieved as counsel, which shall be orally argued remotely via the Microsoft Teams conference application.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | II. Motions
The court may permit oral argument in other matters upon good cause, which requires explaining why the papers alone cannot fully apprise the court of the contested issues.
The court may, however, upon good cause shown, permit oral argument in other matters. Proof of good cause shall include a showing as to why the papers alone are insufficient to apprise or fully explain to the court the nature of the contested issues.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 2 | II. Motions
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A judge must sign a stipulated adjournment when the new return date is more than 60 days after the initial date, but the Motion Support Office forwards the upload and no separate direct submission is needed.
If the agreed upon return date is more than 60 days after the initial return date, the judge’s signature shall be required, but the Motion Support Office will forward the uploaded stipulation to the court for signature. There is no need for the parties to submit a separate stipulation directly to the court for signature.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 2 | II. Motions
If the court grants a written adjournment request, it will so order the application or enter an interim order adjourning the motion or petition's return date.
If the court approves the request, it shall “so order” the written application or shall issue an interim order adjourning the return date of the motion or petition.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 2 | II. Motions
Parties must meet a court-directed discovery conference order deadline unless they request an extension from the Part Clerk.
When the parties are directed by the court to submit a preliminary conference order, compliance conference order, or status conference order by a date certain, they shall adhere to the submission date directed by the court or shall request the Part Clerk to extend the submission deadline.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 4 | V. Discovery Conferences and Disputes
When the opposing party refuses to stipulate to an adjournment, the requesting party may email a written request to the court through the Part Clerk.
If one party seeks an adjournment of a motion or petition, but the other party refuses to stipulate to the adjournment, the party seeking the adjournment may submit a written request to the court by emailing it to SFC-Part56-Clerk@nycourts.gov.
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.
Page 2 | II. Motions
Chambers Communication Rules
Attorneys and unrepresented parties generally may not send letters or emails to the court, but may email the Part Clerk for scheduling or logistics, motion withdrawal or case settlement or discontinuation, or a deposition ruling.
No attorney or unrepresented party shall send letters or emails to the court, unless expressly permitted by these Part Rules or requested by the court, except that attorneys and unrepresented parties may write or email the Part Clerk at SFC-Part56-Clerk@nycourts.gov (i) with respect to scheduling or logistical issues, (ii) to inform the Part Clerk that a motion is being withdrawn or that an action has been settled or discontinued, or (iii) to request a ruling in the course of a deposition.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 1 | I. Contacting the Court
Parties must not contact chambers or the justice's law clerks directly unless the court directs them to do so.
PARTIES SHALL NOT CONTACT CHAMBERS DIRECTLY, INCLUDING THE JUSTICE’S LAW CLERKS, UNLESS DIRECTED TO DO SO.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 1 | I. Contacting the Court
Every letter or email sent to the Part Clerk must be copied to all other attorneys or unrepresented parties appearing in the action.
All letters or emails directed to the Part Clerk shall be copied to all other attorneys or unrepresented parties appearing in the action.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 1 | I. Contacting the Court
Telephone calls to the Part Clerk are permitted only for scheduling or logistics, notice of motion withdrawal or case settlement or discontinuation, or requests for deposition rulings.
Attorneys or unrepresented parties may telephone the Part Clerk only with respect to scheduling or logistical issues, to inform the Part Clerk that a motion is being withdrawn or that an action has been settled or discontinued, or with respect to requests for rulings at depositions.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 1 | I. Contacting the Court
Attorneys and unrepresented parties may not request legal advice or guidance from the court, the Part Clerk, or the justice's law clerks.
No attorney or unrepresented party shall request legal advice or guidance from the court, including from the Part Clerk or the Justice’s law clerks.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 1 | I. Contacting the Court
Disputed issues may not be litigated by letter or email unless the court directs otherwise, and generally must be raised through a properly noticed motion or duly scheduled conference.
Disputed issues arising in the course of an action shall not be litigated via letter or email, but only via a properly noticed motion or at a duly scheduled conference, unless the court directs otherwise.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 1 | I. Contacting the Court
A represented party may not contact the court directly, and only the party's attorney may contact the court on its behalf unless the court directs otherwise.
No party represented by an attorney shall call, write, email, or otherwise contact the court, unless expressly directed to do so by the court. If a party is represented by an attorney, only the attorney shall contact the court on behalf of that party.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 2 | I. Contacting the Court
An attorney moving to be relieved as counsel must immediately email the client's telephone number and email address to the Part Clerk after serving the motion papers.
Attorneys who seek to move to be relieved as counsel shall, immediately after they serve their motion papers, provide the court with their clients’ contact information, including telephone number and email address, by emailing that information to SFC-Part56-Clerk@nycourts.gov.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 2 | II. Motions
Attorneys and unrepresented parties may not telephone chambers, including the justice's law clerks, unless expressly directed to do so.
No attorney or unrepresented party shall telephone chambers, including the Justice’s law clerks, unless expressly directed to do so.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 2 | I. Contacting the Court
If the parties resolve a discovery dispute before the scheduled remote conference, they must contact the Part Clerk and cancel the conference.
e. If the parties initially cannot agree with respect to an item or items of discovery, and schedule a remote conference with the court to discuss that item or items, but resolve the dispute or disagreement prior to the conference date, they shall contact the Part Clerk and cancel the conference.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 5 | V. Discovery Conferences and Disputes
When the stated note-of-issue and summary-judgment conditions are met, the plaintiff must notify the Part 56 Part Clerk within 10 days after the 60-day period lapses, and the court will ordinarily schedule the initial settlement conference within one or two weeks after notice.
In cases where the plaintiff has filed a note of issue, and no defendant has moved to strike the note of issue within 20 days thereafter, and no party has moved for summary judgment within 60 days thereafter, the plaintiff shall, within 10 days of the lapse of that 60-day period, notify the Part 56 Part Clerk that the note of issue has been filed, upon which the court will schedule an initial in-person settlement conference with the parties for a date shortly thereafter, usually within one or two weeks after that notification.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026
Page 5 | VII. Settlement Conferences
Attorneys and unrepresented parties may not discuss the merits of a case with the Part Clerk by email or telephone.
No attorney or unrepresented party shall discuss the merits of their case in emails or telephone calls to the Part Clerk.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | I. Contacting the Court
If the parties cannot agree on a discovery conference order, they must request a conference by contacting the Part Clerk.
If the parties cannot agree to the terms and contents of a discovery conference order, they shall request a conference by contacting the Part Clerk.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 4 | V. Discovery Conferences and Disputes
The plaintiff must complete the proposed discovery conference order, leave the designated date fields blank, and email the completed order to the Part Clerk.
The plaintiff shall be responsible for filling out the proposed discovery conference order, leaving blank the spaces provided for the next discovery order submission date and note of issue filing deadline, and emailing the completed proposed discovery order to the Part Clerk.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 4 | V. Discovery Conferences and Disputes
When available, the Part Clerk must forward a telephone request for a deposition ruling to the justice or a law clerk.
If either the Justice or a law clerk is available to consider the application for such a deposition ruling, the Part Clerk shall forward the telephone call to the Justice or a law clerk.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | I. Contacting the Court