John R. Higgitt is a partner in Quinn Emanuel’s New York office. He joined the firm in 2026. Prior to joining the firm, John was an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department. He was appointed to that Court in May 2021. Prior to joining the Appellate Division, First Department, Justice Higgitt served on the Appellate Term, First Judicial Department, and the New York State Supreme Court, Bronx County (civil branch).
Prior to his judicial service, Justice Higgitt held a number of positions in the New York State court system, including Chief Court Attorney of Supreme Court, Bronx County (civil branch); court attorney-referee in Supreme Court, Bronx County; and Chief Court Attorney of the Appellate Term, First Department. Additionally, Justice Higgitt was a confidential law clerk to justices in Supreme Court, New York and Bronx Counties, and the Appellate Division, First Department.
Justice Higgitt was a member of the New York State Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions (civil) for the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York; a member of the New York State Bench Book Committee for the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York; and a co-chair of the Advisory Committee on Civil Practice to the Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts of the State of New York.
Justice Higgitt received his law degree from Albany Law School of Union University (2001), and his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York, College at Cortland (1998).
- Albany Law School of Union University
(J.D., cum laude, 2001) - State University of New York, University College at Cortland
(B.A., Sociology, 1998)- Alpha Kappa Delta
- The State Bar of New York
- Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department:
- New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, 2021-2026
- Associate Justice of the Appellate Term, First Department:
- New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Term, First Judicial Department, 2020-2021
- Justice of New York State Supreme Court:
- New York State Supreme Court, Bronx County, Civil Branch, 2020-2021
- Judge of the Court of Claims and Acting Supreme Court Justice:
- New York State Court of Claims and Supreme Court, Bronx County, Civil Branch, 2018-2019
- New York State Supreme Court, Bronx County, Civil Branch:
- Chief Court Attorney, 2015-2018
- Referee & Principal Court Attorney to the Administrative Judges for Civil Matters of the Twelfth Judicial District, 2011-2015
- New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Term, First Judicial Department:
- Chief Appellate Court Attorney, 2009-2010
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law:
- Adjunct Professor of Law, 2007-2010
- Confidential Law Clerk to the Honorable James M. McGuire:
- New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, 2005-2009
- Confidential Law Clerk to the Honorable Joan B. Carey:
- New York Supreme Court, New York County, Civil Branch, 2003-2005
- New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department:
- Appellate Court Attorney, 2002-2003
PRACTICE COMMENTARIES AUTHORED
- January 2015-March 2019 - authored Practice Commentaries to McKinney’s Consolidated Laws of New York, Book 7B, Civil Practice Law and Rules articles 32-44, and 50.
LAW REVIEW ARTICLES
- A Nullity or Not? - The Status of a Default Judgment Entered Absent Compliance with CPLR 3215(f),3 Albany Law Review 807, at 807-828 (Spring 2010)
- CPLR 3211(a)(7): Demurrer or Merits-Testing Device?, 73 Albany Law Review 99, at 99-112 (Dec. 2009)
- Ascertaining the Burden of Proof for an Award of Punitive Damages in New York? Consult Your Local Appellate Division, 25 Touro Law Review 725 (June 2009, issue 2) (with Hon. Leon D. Lazer)
OTHER LEGAL ARTICLES
- The Application of Daimler AG's Principal-Place-of-Business Standard in New York Courts, Fall 2018 NY Litigator (the Journal of the Commercial & Federal Litigation Section of the NYSBA) (vol. 23, no. 2), at 30-36
- Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts (4th ed.) - January 29, 2018, book review for the Bronx Bar County Association New York Law Journal, November 17, 1999
- The Perfect Ending to a Trial: a Perfected Verdict, April 6, 2015 New York Law Journal at 4, 9
- Avoiding the Conclusory in Expert Affidavits, 27, 2015 New York Law Journal at 4, 9
- Requests to Extend Deadlines and the Reach of the CPLR, October 2, 2013 New York Law Journal at 4, 8
- Second Circuit Fashions New Test to Endorse Non Compete Provisions, June 4, 1999
- The Emergence of E-Service Under CPLR 308(5), 2013 New York State Bar Association Journal at 28-33. New York State Bar Journal, February 1999, Vol. 71, No. 2
- High Court Signals a Change in Practice with CPLR 3211(a)(7), July 31, 2013 New York Law Journal at 4
- Summary Judgment Do’s and Don’ts, March/April 2013 New York State Bar Association Journal at 26-30
- Jurisdiction of Federal Court Over Action Brought Solely to Recover Attorneys Fees (A Fees-Only Suit) Resulting from State-Litigated Suit Under Title VII of Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C.A. ' 2000e-5(f)(3), (k), 75 ALR Fed 2d 373 (2013 Thompson West Publishing)
- 10 Tips to Improve Your Motion Practice, April 3, 2012 New York Law Journal at 4, 8
- Construction and Application of Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009, Pub. L. 111-22, 123 Stat. 1660 (Note to 12 U.S.C.A. ' 5520), 65 ALR Fed 2d 217 (2012 Thompson West Publishing)
- Snapshot of the Contributions to the Law of Justice Martin Evans, 9, 2011 New York Law Journal at 6
- CPLR 3211(a)(1) & (a)(7) Dismissal Motions - Pitfalls and Pointers,/Dec. 2011 New York State Bar Association Journal at 32-36
- Which Actions Affect Real Property Under CPLR 6501?, Nov./Dec. 2009 New York State Bar Association Journal at 39-43
- Determining the Bounds Of Lis Pendens on Real Property, May 14, 2009 New York Law Journal at 4, 9
- Burden of Proof for New York Punitive Damages, 4, 2008 New York Law Journal at 4, 9 (with Hon. Leon D. Lazer)
- Laxness Dismissal Survival Guide: Restoring Actions Dismissed Pursuant to CPLR 3216, CPLR 3404 and Uniform Rule 202.27, 1, 2006 New York Law Journal at 4, 8
- Opposing Summary Judgment Motions Under CPLR 3212(f), Oct. 17, 2005 New York Law Journal at 4, 7
- Co-Chair, Advisory Committee on Civil Practice to the Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts of the State of New York, August 2024-present
- Member, New York State Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions (Civil), Association of Supreme Court Justices, January 2020-present
- Member, New York State Bench Book Committee, Assoc. of Supreme Court Justices, January 2020-present
- Member, New York State Supreme Court E-Filing Advisory Committee to the Chief
- Administrative Judge of the Courts of the State of New York, October 2015-present
- Reporter, New York State Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions (Civil), Association of Supreme Court Justices, July 2002-December 2008, January 2011-December 2019
- Reporter, New York State Bench Book Committee, Association of Supreme Court Justices, July 2011-December 2019
- Member, Advisory Committee on Civil Practice to the Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts of the State of New York, July 2005-June 2018 (incident to appointment to the bench, inactive July 2018-August 2024)