Hon. Christopher J. Burns
Judicial Directory Information

Part 19 - 3rd floor
25 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
Ph: (716) 845-9381
Fx: (716) 845-5154

MOTIONS: Thursdays in Part 19 at 9:30 a.m. (Alternate)
25 Delaware Avenue - 3rd Floor

Civil:
All moving papers, answering papers, reply papers and memoranda to be received by chambers by 2 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the return date. If papers are not timely delivered, motions will be adjourned. Oral argument expected on all cases, unless, 1) the motion is known in advance to be uncontested or 2) a letter requesting the motion be decided on the papers is received by the Court prior to the return date. Discovery motions may be subject to a conference with the Law Clerk prior to argument on the return date. Original papers must be supplied to the Court on an Order to Show Cause, on all other motions copies are acceptable. TRO’s on notice to other side, if known. TROs in case assigned to other Judge upon approval of IAS Judge or his/her Law Clerk. Motions cannot be adjourned generally, and should only be adjourned upon good cause after obtaining the consent of Chambers.

Matrimonial:
All moving papers, answering papers, reply papers and memoranda to be sent to chambers by 2 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the return date. If papers are not timely delivered, motions will be adjourned. Original papers must be supplied to the Court. TRO’s on notice to other side, if known. TROs in case assigned to other Judge upon approval of IAS Judge or his/her Law Clerk. Motions cannot be adjourned generally, and should only be adjourned upon good cause after obtaining the consent of Chambers.

CONFERENCES:

Civil:
Preliminary and Pre-trial conferences are automatically scheduled upon court’s receipt of RJI or calendar note of issue, otherwise, a preliminary conference may be scheduled upon request. Conference before IAS Judge or Law Clerk. Adjournments granted upon agreement of all parties and after obtaining the consent of Chambers.

Matrimonial:
Preliminary conferences for settlement permitted and encouraged. Pleadings and 236-b affidavits in advance. Adjournments granted upon agreement of all parties and after obtaining the consent of Chambers.

TRIAL and REFERENCES:

Civil:
Court adheres strictly to trial schedule. Papers for motion in limine required prior to commencement of trial. Conference with IAS Judge upon completion of jury selection. Jury Selection Forms to be submitted at least one (1) month before jury selection date. Formal Requests to Charge and proposed Verdict Sheets required prior to jury selection. Charge conference held prior to summations. Deadline on expert disclosure, without good cause shown, thirty (30) days before the scheduled commencement date of jury selection.

Matrimonial:
References to Law Clerk to hear and report on divorces on stipulation, contested economics, post-divorce arrears and post-divorce modification.