United States District Court for the Western District of New York
About This Court
The Western District of New York is one of four federal judicial districts in New York State and sits within the Second Circuit. The district covers the western portion of the state, encompassing major metropolitan areas including Buffalo and Rochester, along with surrounding counties bordering Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the Pennsylvania and Canadian borders.
The district handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters, including cases arising from its proximity to an international border with Canada, which generates immigration and customs-related litigation. The presence of several Native American nations within the district also gives rise to a distinct body of tribal sovereignty and land rights cases that have shaped federal jurisprudence.
The court operates divisions in Buffalo and Rochester, with the clerk's office headquartered in Buffalo. As a mid-sized federal district, it maintains a docket that reflects the economic and demographic character of western New York, including cases involving manufacturing, healthcare, and financial institutions.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Western District of New York.
Divisions
Buffalo Division (Buffalo), Rochester Division (Rochester)
Caseload
The district sees a notable volume of immigration-related criminal cases tied to the international border with Canada, as well as complex civil litigation involving tribal rights and sovereignty claims from Native American nations located within the district.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Western District of New York by applying to the court and demonstrating membership in good standing in the New York State bar or another federal court bar, consistent with the court's local rules.
Clerk's Office
2 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 551-1700
Active Judges 9
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Arcara | Ronald Reagan | 1988 | Villanova University School of Law |
| Frank Geraci | Barack Obama | 2012 | University of Dayton School of Law |
| David Larimer | Ronald Reagan | 1987 | Notre Dame Law School |
| John Sinatra | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | State University of New York at Buffalo Law School |
| Charles Siragusa | William J. Clinton | 1997 | Albany Law School |
| William Skretny | George H.W. Bush | 1990 | Howard University School of Law |
| Meredith Vacca | Joseph R. Biden | 2024 | State University of New York at Buffalo Law School |
| Lawrence Vilardo | Barack Obama | 2015 | Harvard Law School |
| Elizabeth Wolford | Barack Obama | 2013 | Notre Dame Law School |
Local Rules
10 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.