(Photo by Robert Linder on Unsplash )
Our court system in New York State feels complicated and confusing. Just in the Western and Central New York regions, including the Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo areas, there are literally dozens of state and local courts (not to mention federal courts, too), each dealing with different cases.
Most people go their whole lives and rarely, if ever, have to go to court. So, it’s no surprise that many people are confused about which court they have to go to and why.
There are some good resources online about how New York State courts are organized. But, if you find yourself in court, your best bet is to hire a good lawyer who knows how to navigate the court system.
Here’s an overview of some of the courts in Western and Central New York that our law firm deals with most often:
New York State Courts
Town & Village Courts
Towns such as Pittsford, Brighton, Irondequoit, Greece, Gates, Henrietta, Webster, Geneseo, Victor, Ontario, etc. and some villages such as East Rochester, Brockport, Mt. Morris, etc. have a court. Town and Village Courts handle misdemeanor criminal charges such as driving while intoxicated (DWI), traffic tickets, municipal code violations, evictions, and small claims involving up to $3,000.
City Courts
Cities including Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Batavia, Geneva, and Canandaigua have a City Court. City Courts handle misdemeanors such as DWIs, and traffic tickets, code violations, evictions, small claims involving up to $5,000, and other lawsuits involving up to $15,000. (In Rochester and Buffalo, traffic tickets are handled in a special traffic court separate from the City Court).
County Courts
Counties including Monroe, Erie, Onondaga, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Genesee, Orleans, Seneca, and Steuben, have a County Court. County Courts mainly handle felony criminal charges including drugs, guns, felony DWI, burglary, assault, murder, rape, and other serious crimes.
Family Court
Each county including Monroe, Erie, Onondaga, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans, Yates, Seneca, Cayuga, and Steuben, has a Family Court. Family Court handles child custody cases, child support, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect cases, person in need of supervision (PINS), juvenile delinquency, and “youth part” cases involving crimes allegedly committed by teenagers.
Supreme Court
The New York State Supreme Court sits in each county including Monroe, Erie, Onondaga, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans, Yates, Seneca, Cayuga, and Steuben. Despite the name, Supreme Court is not the highest court in the State (that’s the Court of Appeals). Supreme Court hears some of the most important civil and criminal cases. It handles felonies including drug charges, gun charges, felony DWI, burglary, assault, murder, rape, and other serious crimes. Supreme court also handles personal injury cases, such as slip-and-falls and car accidents; divorces, which often involve child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance; business lawsuits involving $25,000 or more; and lawsuits involving real estate such as foreclosures, partitions, and disputes between commercial landlords and tenants.
Going to court can be scary. Whether it’s a DWI or divorce, car accident or child custody, business lawsuit or broken contract, Ganguly Brothers, PLLC can help walk you through the court system. Contact us today for a free consultation.