Hon. John L. Sinatra, Jr.

John L. Sinatra, Jr.
United States District Judge
Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse
2 Niagara Square
Buffalo, New York 14202
Telephone: (716) 551-1640

Staff Information

Courtroom Deputy Clerk:	Kirstie L. Henry (716) 551-1641
Court Reporter:	Bonnie S. Weber
	[Please do not email chambers’ correspondence or filings to the court reporter. Contact chambers by telephone for guidance on emailing the Court.]

Law Clerks:	Mary Moran
	Kristen E. Flick
	Moira F. N. Eaton

Judge Tabs

Motions

Motions:

Unless the Court previously set one, notices of motion should not contain return dates. The Court will set a briefing schedule for all responses and replies. The Court will schedule oral argument if necessary.

The Court encourages parties represented by counsel to include tables of contents and authorities with all memoranda of law. Citations to legal authority should appear in the text of the memoranda of law, not in footnotes.

Each party represented by counsel shall provide one courtesy copy of substantive motion papers to chambers upon filing. Parties need not provide courtesy copies of motions to extend time or to adjourn. The Court prefers that courtesy copies include the headers generated upon filing with CM/ECF. If copies are voluminous, the Court asks that copies be three-hole punched, tabbed, and placed in three-ring binders.

Adjournments and Enlargements of Time

Adjournments and Enlargements of Time:

A schedule may be modified only for good cause and with the Court’s consent. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(4).

With consent of opposing counsel, counsel may file a letter request for an extension of time to file papers.

Similarly, counsel may submit a letter request to adjourn a scheduled oral argument date with consent of opposing counsel, so long as the request is submitted at least five business days before the scheduled argument date. When submitting such a letter request, counsel for the requesting party shall discuss proposed new dates with opposing counsel to confirm availability and shall include those proposed dates in the letter. Counsel seeking to adjourn a criminal matter should ensure that such request complies with Local Rule of Criminal Procedure 12(g).

All letter requests should be filed via CM/ECF and emailed to chambers at sinatra@nywd.uscourts.gov.

Absent consent of opposing counsel, a motion to extend time or to adjourn must be filed with the Court. The Court does not require courtesy copies of such motions.

Injunctive and/or Expedited Relief

Requests for Injunctive and/or Expedited Relief:

Immediately after filing a request for injunctive or expedited relief, the moving party must telephone chambers to notify the Court that the motion was filed. The Court will determine the briefing schedule and return date for such motions.

Style Guide

Style Guide for Memoranda:

The Court prefers that citations comply with the Bluebook.

Submissions to Chambers

Submissions to Chambers :

All inquiries shall be directed to Kirstie Henry, courtroom deputy clerk.

Unless otherwise directed, parties shall not communicate with the Court via fax.

Junior Lawyers

Opportunities for More Junior Lawyers:

The Court strongly encourages participation of relatively inexperienced attorneys in all court proceedings—including conferences, oral arguments, hearings, and trials.

Any attorney who appears in court should have the authority and experience necessary for the proceeding. For example, an attorney attending a scheduling conference should have the authority to commit his or her client to a schedule and should be prepared to address other matters likely to arise, such as whether the Court should schedule a settlement conference before the assigned Magistrate Judge. And if a relatively inexperienced attorney needs supervision at a court proceeding to ensure the client is represented competently, a supervising attorney should be present. To that end, the Court will permit split arguments, in which both a relatively inexperienced attorney and a more experienced or supervising attorney may speak.

Business Organization Parties

Business Organization Parties:

The Court has adopted General Order #157 regarding disclosure of members, shareholders, partners, and leaders of business organization parties. General Order #157 requires business organization parties to provide information regarding their members, shareholders, partners, and/or leaders where it may reasonably bear on the Court’s decision whether to recuse and in cases in which the Court’s subject matter jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a).

Full text of the order can be found here.

Internship Information for Law Students

Internship Information for Law Students:

Judge Sinatra may select interns for the fall, spring, and summer terms. Interested law students should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, law school transcript, and contact information for references to:

Hon. John L. Sinatra, Jr.
2 Niagara Square
Buffalo, NY 14202

Students in their first year of law school should submit updated transcripts when they receive their fall semester grades. Applicants for summer internship positions are encouraged to apply by December 31.

Sealing and Redaction Procedures

Sealing and Redaction Procedures:

Any party seeking to file a document, or portion of a document, under seal on notice must follow the procedures set forth in the District’s Administrative Procedures Guide, Loc. R. Civ. P. 5.3(c), and Loc. R. Crim. P. 55.

Consistent with these rules and procedures, Judge Sinatra will not approve sealing requests unless the party seeking sealing provides a supporting affidavit setting forth the reasons a document, or portion of a document, should be sealed and, if appropriate, a memorandum of law that sets forth the applicable legal authority for sealing.

In lieu of sealing a document in full, parties should consider these options:

1. A publicly filed document with redactions, plus the unredacted document filed under seal (e.g., when the sealed content consists of names, identities (e.g., “Witness 1”), Social Security numbers, limited protected health information, etc.); or

2. A publicly filed document, plus a supplemental document filed under seal (e.g., when the sealed content consists of a set of documents, such as medical records, that may be attached to a submission; or a section with sealed content that can be excised easily from the longer document).

Judge Sinatra leaves it to the discretion of the party seeking sealing to consider which option is appropriate in each case.

Parties should request to seal an entire document only where necessary. Submissions in support of sealing should explain why redactions or a sealed supplement are unworkable.

Information for Law Clerk Applicants

Information for Law Clerk Applicants:

Judge Sinatra's law clerk vacancies are posted on select websites and publications, as well as on the district website. Law clerk applications are accepted year-round for anticipated future vacancies. Interested applicants may submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, law school transcript, and contact information for references to:

Hon. John L. Sinatra, Jr.
2 Niagara Square
Buffalo, NY 14202

United States District Court

Western District of New York

Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford, Chief Judge | Mary C. Loewenguth, Clerk of Court

You are here

Hon. John L. Sinatra, Jr.

John L. Sinatra, Jr.
United States District Judge
Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse
2 Niagara Square
Buffalo, New York 14202
Telephone: (716) 551-1640

Staff Information

Judge Tabs

You are here

Hon. John L. Sinatra, Jr.

John L. Sinatra, Jr. United States District Judge Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse 2 Niagara Square Buffalo, New York 14202 Telephone: (716) 551-1640

Staff Information

Judge Tabs

John L. Sinatra, Jr.
United States District Judge
Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse
2 Niagara Square
Buffalo, New York 14202
Telephone: (716) 551-1640