Hon. Francois A. Rivera. Part 52.
Supreme Court, Kings County (Brooklyn). 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, Courtroom 556. Every appearance in Part 52 is in person, and every motion is orally argued on the record.
Important Notice
Our office does not provide per diem coverage for matters assigned to Justice Rivera. That is our own booking policy, not a published court rule. Part 52 argues every motion orally and on the record, and the part expects the attorney who knows the file to answer the court's questions, so we do not send a covering attorney into it.
Quick Reference
| Courtroom | 556, 360 Adams Street |
| Courtroom Phone | 347-296-1618 |
| Chambers Phone | 347-296-1524 |
| Motion Day | Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. First call 10:15 a.m., second call 11:15 a.m. |
| Appearances | All appearances are in person, and all motions are orally argued on the record |
| Adjournments | On consent, by written stipulation filed at least two business days before the return date, with a courtesy copy emailed to the part |
| Discovery | Handled in the Discovery Part, not in Part 52 |
Part Rules
Source: nycourts.gov Part 52 rules, updated October 3, 2025 | Last verified: August 5, 2026
Part 52 sits in Courtroom 556 at 360 Adams Street. The Principal Law Clerk is Maya Leszczynski, Esq., the Administrative Assistant is Melissa Canteño Cardenas, and the Part Clerk is Maureen F. Lawton.
Motions are heard on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. The first call is at 10:15 a.m. and the second call is at 11:15 a.m. Upon receipt, a motion is calendared for the next available Thursday, which is often not the return date stated in the notice of motion, so check eCourts before contacting the court. A moving party who fails to appear may have the motion denied.
The parties may adjourn on consent by written stipulation filed with the County Clerk, or on NYSCEF in an e-filed case, no less than two business days before the return date, with a courtesy copy emailed to the part. A consent stipulation does not need to be so-ordered. A contested adjournment may be made orally on the return date, or earlier upon good cause shown for exceptional circumstances or a religious accommodation. A party withdrawing a motion files a notice of withdrawal on NYSCEF and emails a courtesy copy at least three business days before the calendar date. In each instance the court sends an email if the request is accepted, and counsel who receives no email must appear.
Where the court directs a proposed order after argument, it is submitted in Microsoft Word format by email to KSCCVPART52@nycourts.gov, copying every party that has appeared. The court's signature line must not appear on a page with no other writing. Infant compromise and wrongful death compromise proceedings are generally held in person on Fridays, and the parties may ask chambers to hold one virtually by email at least seven business days before the scheduled date. A child ten years old or younger may not be deposed without a swearability hearing before the court. All discovery matters, including discovery stipulations, are handled in the Discovery Part.
Practitioner Intelligence
From attorneys who have appeared in Part 52, checked against the published Part 52 rules. Last updated: August 5, 2026.
What to Expect
Judge Rivera runs a formal, on-the-record courtroom. Unlike many Brooklyn parts where routine matters are handled informally or by clerks, everything in Part 52 goes on the record. The judge expects attorneys to be substantively prepared and will ask questions that require more than procedural knowledge of the case.
Key Warnings
- Cite your caselaw. Judge Rivera will ask you to support your positions with legal authority. Walking in without relevant case citations is not an option.
- Send someone who can answer for the file. The published rules do not name who must appear, but they do require oral argument on every motion, and a moving party who cannot answer the court's questions risks having the motion denied.
- Everything is on the record. Be precise with your language. Informal sidebar conversations that might work in other parts do not happen here.
- Per diem policy note. The Part 52 law clerk has confirmed that a per diem attorney is accepted for an appearance. Nothing in the published rules bars one. Our office still declines these assignments, because the part demands a level of substantive preparation that a covering attorney cannot reach on short notice. A firm that does use local counsel here should brief that attorney fully on the procedural posture, the substantive issues, the discovery status, and the controlling authority.
Who Should Handle This Part
The handling attorney or a senior associate who has been deeply involved in the case. Every appearance in Part 52 is in person under the published rules, with a virtual option available only for an infant compromise or wrongful death compromise proceeding on advance request, so an out-of-state firm should plan to travel rather than delegate the argument to counsel who does not know the file.
Recent Field Notes (Spring 2026)
- Practical reality reconfirmed in 2026. The substantive preparation Part 52 demands has reconfirmed itself across appearances in Spring 2026. Counsel should treat per diem coverage as not a working option for substantive matters in this Part, and should plan from filing forward for the handling attorney to appear personally.
- On the record means transcribable. Because every word is recorded, treat any concession, stipulation, or scheduling commitment as binding from the moment it leaves your mouth. The court will hold you to it.
Need Help Preparing for Part 52?
While we don’t provide per diem coverage for Judge Rivera, we can help you prepare. With 28 years of Kings County experience, we can brief your team on what to expect.
Phone: 212-233-0666 | Text/Emergency: 917-686-3827 | Email: fabramson@abramsonlegal.com
When your case is on the line, send someone who knows the courtroom.
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Court rules and procedures change frequently. Information on this page is for general reference only and may not reflect the most current rules. Verify all information with the Part Clerk before your appearance.
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