Administrative Directory - Executive Officers

Deputy Chief Administrative Judge (Outside NYC) Michael Coccoma

Michael V. Coccoma was appointed as Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Courts Outside New York City in May 2009 by the Chief Administrative Judge. The appointment was made with the approval of then-Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman and in consultation with the Presiding Justices of the Appellate Divisions of the Second, Third and Fourth Judicial Departments.

In his position, Judge Coccoma is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the trial-level courts in the 57 counties outside of New York City, which includes over 700 justices and over 5,500 non-judicial employees. He works with local Administrative Judges to allocate and assign judicial and non-judicial personnel resources to meet the needs and goals of the state-paid trial-level courts. He is also responsible for overseeing the local Town and Village courts.

Judge Coccoma is a graduate of The Citadel and earned his J.D. at Albany Law School. He began his career in private practice and served as Otsego County Attorney and Assistant District Attorney before being elected as District Attorney in 1991. He was elected to his first term as a multi-bench judge of County Court, Family Court and Surrogate’s Court in Otsego County in 1994. In 2004, he was re-elected to County Court. Judge Coccoma was appointed an Acting Supreme Court Justice in 2000 and elected to the Supreme Court in 2008. He also served as a Drug Treatment Court judge for seven years. Currently he presides over Felony Jury trials in Supreme Court, Schenectady County, New York and Supreme Court Civil calendar in Otsego County, in addition to his administrative duties.

In addition to this experience, Judge Coccoma has served on important state-wide committees, including the New York State Matrimonial Commission, charged with examining and recommending reforms in divorce proceedings, and the Family Court Advisory and Rules Committee, which recommended proposals for changes in family court procedure and family law to better serve the public. Recently he served as an ad hoc member of the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force study of New York’s Family Court. He also is a member of the E-Filing Planning Committee for the Unified Court System. He has served as a member of the Law Guardian Advisory and Rules Committee for the Third Department, the Family Court Advisory and Rules Committee, and the Otsego County Children’s Center Committee, which created a safe haven for young family members of court users awaiting hearings. Judge Coccoma also serves in the capacity of Statewide Administrative Judge for Fiduciary Matters.

Judge Coccoma and his wife, Ellen, reside in Cooperstown, New York. His commitment to public service extends through to his active participation in his local community where he serves as a Volunteer Emergency Medical Technician for the Cooperstown Emergency Squad. He also enjoys motorcycling and distance running.

Hon. Michael V. Coccoma

Information about Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Coccoma is also available on the Executive Officers' page.