Mary L. Nicolas Brewster at a glance
- Current role
- Supreme Court Justice, Bronx County Civil Term, General IAS Part 11
- Court
- Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Term
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- January 1, 2025–present
Mary L. Nicolas Brewster
Supreme Court Justice, Bronx County Civil Term, General IAS Part 11 · Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Term
Available research
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Biography
Professional career
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Pro Se Staff Attorney, 1993 to 1996
- Westchester County Attorney's Office, 1999 to 2011
- NYS Unified Court System, Senior Appellate Court Attorney, Appellate Division, Second Department, 1996 to 1998
- NYS Unified Court System, Court Attorney Referee, Ninth Judicial District, 2011 to 2019
- Office of the New York State Attorney General, 1998 to 1999
- NYS Unified Court System, Executive Director of the Franklin H. Wiliams Judicial Commission, 2019 to 2025
Judicial service
- Acting Justice, Designated by Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas, 2025 to Present
- Judge, New York State Court of Claims, Appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul, 2025 to Present
Education
- SUNY-Binghamton · B.A., 1989
- New York University School of Law · J.D., 1992
Courtroom rules and guidance
Special Media And Technology Requests
For a Part 11 trial, counsel must raise special requests for media or technology during the pretrial conference and submit them no later than the end of the first day of jury selection, or by the end of the pretrial conference for a bench trial.
Any special requests regarding the use of media or technology must be raised at the pre-trial conferenceJustice Nicolas-Brewster Part 11 Rules ↗
Motion Video And Audio Exhibits
Part 11 motion papers containing video or audio evidence must provide a working unrestricted URL or deliver the media to chambers on a flash drive, with a duplicate furnished to all parties.
If a motion contains video or audio evidence, a copy must be provided to the CourtJustice Nicolas-Brewster Part 11 Rules ↗
Powerpoint And Innovative Presentations
In a Bronx County Summary Jury Trial, counsel may use innovative jury presentations, including medical records, reports, and PowerPoint.
Counsel are encouraged to use innovative methods of presentation to the jury, including medical records, reports, PowerPoint presentationsBronx County Summary Jury Trial Rules ↗
Jury Notebooks And Exhibit Exchange
Evidence or trial notebooks intended for the jury in a Bronx County Summary Jury Trial must be exchanged 30 days before trial or the material may be precluded.
Any evidence or trial notebook intended for the jury must be exchanged thirty (30) days prior to trial or may be precludedBronx County Summary Jury Trial Rules ↗
Video Testimony
Live or prerecorded video testimony is permitted in a Bronx County Summary Jury Trial.
Video taped testimony, live or pre-recorded, is permittedBronx County Summary Jury Trial Rules ↗
Recording And Photography
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 ↗
Evidence Presentation Control
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 ↗
Trial Exhibit Books
In New York Supreme Court and County Court civil cases, the court may require indexed trial exhibit binders, notebooks, or electronic equivalents for the court, counsel, and witnesses.
The court may direct that on the first day of trial or at such other time as the court may set, counsel shall submit an indexed binder or notebook, or the electronic equivalent, of trial exhibits for the court's use.Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗
Exhibit Marking
Civil trial counsel in New York Supreme Court and County Court must confer before trial and attempt to agree on exhibits to be offered without objection, unless the court directs otherwise.
Counsel for the parties shall consult prior to trial and shall in good faith attempt to agree upon the exhibits that will be offered into evidence without objection.Part 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court ↗
Virtual Evidence Courtroom
For Commercial Division matters, New York rules encourage Virtual Evidence Courtrooms for managing and presenting trial evidence after authorization by request or court direction.
Virtual Evidence Courtrooms (VECs) may be used to facilitate real-time access to trial exhibits and other relevant documents.Part 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits ↗
Electronic Appearances
For New York criminal proceedings, virtual and hybrid appearances are governed by Part 200 consent, objection, public-access, and calendar-update requirements.
For all hybrid proceedings, all electronic appearances shall be projected in the physical courtroom in which the in-person portion of the proceeding is taking place in such a manner as to provide a reasonable opportunity for members of the public to view and hear the participants appearing electronically.Part 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction ↗
Sources
Bronx County Supreme Court Civil Term Part Rules, General IAS Part 11
Identity source · HTML · checked July 28, 2026
https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/12th-judicial-district/bronx-county-supreme-court-civil-term/part-rulesBronx County Summary Jury Trial Rules
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 28, 2026
https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/12th-judicial-district/bronx-county-supreme-court-civil-term/filing-rulesJustice Nicolas-Brewster Part 11 Rules
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 28, 2026
https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/courts/12jd/bronx/civil/pdfs/IA-11.pdfPart 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-29-electronic-recording-and-audio-visual-coverage-court-facilities-and-court-proceedings?from_node=15921&topic=386&wrapped=trueGuide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/evidence/1-GENERAL/1-generalprovisions.shtmlPart 202: Uniform Civil Rules for the Supreme Court and the County Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-courtPart 202.70 Commercial Division Rules: Virtual Evidence Courtrooms and Trial Exhibits
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-202-uniform-civil-rules-supreme-court-and-county-courtPart 200: Uniform Rules for Courts Exercising Criminal Jurisdiction
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.nycourts.gov/rules/part-200-uniform-rules-courts-exercising-criminal-jurisdiction