How Does County Court in New York Work?

County courts in New York are trial courts, located in all counties, excluding New York City. Geographically speaking, a county court’s jurisdiction covers criminal and specific civil cases initiated within the county borders. The court’s criminal jurisdiction includes prosecution of all crimes occurring within the county regardless of their severity. However, in the practical sense, arraignment hearings, felony preliminary hearings, and trials of misdemeanors and minor offenses are handled by lower courts of limited jurisdiction.

The County Court’s civil jurisdiction is limited and deals with civil cases in which the amount of the claim does not exceed $25,000. In addition, the court judges may also handle all real property actions of properties wholly situated in the county where the court is located. Such actions can include property foreclosures.

The County Court in New York also serves as an intermediate appellate court over cases originally heard by lower courts. This is true for city courts, town courts, and village courts. By law, appellants from these courts are required to file their appeals with the corresponding County Court not less than 14 days prior to the date on which the notice of appeal was filed.

In New York, County Court judges are nominated by their political parties, evaluated and qualified by the Independent Judicial Elections Qualifications Committee (IJEQC), and elected by eligible voters. Typically, the IJEQC is tasked with announcing electable judicial vacancies at the local level as well as evaluating and approving the performance of applicants/nominees. Attorneys seeking to become judges and sitting judges running for re-elections are evaluated alike. During the examination, the IJEQC investigates the background and qualifications of candidates by speaking to references, reviewing professional writing submissions, and conducting personal interviews of applicants. Also, persons running for judicial office at the county level must:

• Be resident of the county from which the office is sought
• Have at least 5 years experience in in-state legal practice
• Be of adult age
• Be less than 70 years of age

Ultimately, the IJEQC rates evaluated candidate as follows:

• Highly qualified
• Qualified
• Not qualified

Pursuant to 22 NYCRR 150 App. A § 3(B), qualified candidates are deemed qualified for a period of 3 years unless new information negating their qualifications and background surfaces. On the other hand, unqualified aspirants are not considered qualified for that judicial position for 1 year from the application submission day (22 NYC 150 App. A § 3(C).

There are 125 County Court judges in New York. Some of these judges serving in upstate counties also function as acting Supreme Court Justices, Family Court Judges, and local Surrogates simultaneously. In these scenarios, the judges are otherwise referred to as multi-hat judges.

As per §255 of the New York Judiciary Law, the court clerk is the administrative body charged with generating, keeping, and disseminating county court records. This means that all requests for transcripts, judgment, and case files should be directed to the applicable court clerk and not to the Office of Court Administration. Older records are archived with the County Clerk and all requests for such records should be directed accordingly.

To obtain copies of a court record in person, requesters are required to visit the particular county courthouse where the case was filed and provide identifying information. These include the case number, names of both parties on the record, case status, and approximate date the case was filed. To find a particular County courthouse location, use the Court Finder Search Tool featured on the New York Judicial System website.

Most New York county courthouses have public computer access terminals where anyone can view public court records free of charge. Those requiring physical copies of these records must request them from the court clerk’s office. New York court clerks’ offices charge nominal fees for searching and providing copies of county court records. They may also require requesters to provide copies of their government-issued photo IDs when requesting specific documents.

If the County Court Directory above proves elusive, ascertain the location and contact details of these courts using the directory below:

Albany County

Albany County Court

Albany County Courthouse

6 Lodge Street

Albany, NY 12207

Phone: (518) 285–8777

Fax: (518) 453–8697

Allegany County

Allegany County Court

Allegany County Courthouse

7 Court Street

Belmont, NY 14813

Phone: (585) 449–3462

Fax: (585) 449–3474

Broome County

Broome County Court

65 Hawley Street

PO Box 1766

Binghamton, NY 13902

Phone: (607) 240–5800

Fax: (607) 240–5940

Cattaraugus County

Cattaraugus County Court

303 Court Street

Little Valley, NY 14755

Phone: (716) 379–6639

Fax: (716) 938–6413

Cattaraugus County Court

1 Leo Moss Drive

Olean, NY 14760

Phone: (716) –379–6616

Fax: (716) 373–0449

Cayuga County

Cayuga County Court

152 Genesee Street

Auburn, NY 13021

Phone: (315) 237–6450

Fax: (315) 237–6451

Chautauqua County

Chautauqua County Court

3 North Erie Street

PO Box 292

Mayville, NY 14757

Phone: (716) 753–4266

Fax: (716) 753–4993

Chemung County

Chemung County Court

Hazlett Building

224 Lake Street

PO Box 588

Elmira, NY 14902

Phone: (607) 873–9430

Fax: (212) 952–7227

Chenango County

Chenango County Court

13 Eaton Avenue

Norwich, NY 13815

Fax: (607) 337–1457

Fax: 917–522–3477

Clinton County

Clinton County Court

137 Margaret Street

Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Phone: (518) 536–3840

Columbia County

Columbia County Court

401 Union Street

Hudson, NY 12534

Phone: (518) 267–3150

Fax: (518) 267–3126

Cortland County

Cortland County Supreme Court

46 Greenbush Street, Suite 301

Cortland, NY 13045

Phone: (607) 218–3320

Fax: (646)963–6452

Delaware County

Delaware County Court

3 Court Street

Delhi, NY 13753

Phone: (607) 376–5400

Fax: (646)963–6402

Dutchess County

Dutchess County Court

10 Market Street

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Phone: (845) 431–1710

Fax: (845) 431–1743

Erie County

Erie County Court

25 Delaware Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14202

Phone: (716) 845–9301

Fax: (716) 851–3293

Essex County

Essex County Court

7559 Court Street

PO Box 217

Elizabethtown, NY 12932

Phone: (518) 873–3370

Fax: (518) 451–8738

Franklin County

Franklin County Court

355 West Main Street

Malone, NY 12953

Phone: (518) 353–7340

Fulton County

Fulton County Court

223 West Main Street

Johnstown, NY 12095

Phone: (518) 736–5662

Fax: (518) 762–5078

Genesee County

Genesee County Court

1 West Main Street

Batavia, NY 14020

Phone: (585) 815–7812

Fax: (585) 344–8517

Hamilton County

Hamilton County Court - Court Office

139 White Birch Lane

PO Box 780

Indian Lake, NY 12842

Phone: (518) 648–5411

Fax: (518) 453–8687

Hamilton County Court - Courthouse

102 County View Drive

Lake Pleasant, NY 12108

Phone: (518) 548–3211

Fax: (518) 453–8687

Herkimer County

Herkimer County Court

301 North Washington Street

Herkimer, NY 13350

Phone: (315) 619–3400

Fax: (315) 266–4683

Jefferson County

Jefferson County Court

Jefferson County Court Complex

163 Arsenal Street

Watertown, NY 13601

Phone: (315) 785–3044

Fax: (315) 266–4778

Lewis County

Lewis County Court

7660 North State Street

Lowville, NY 13367

Phone: (315) 376–5366

Fax: (315) 671–6083

Livingston County

Livingston County Court

2 Court Street

Geneseo, NY 14454

Phone: (585) 371–3920

Fax: (585) 371–3935

Madison County

Madison County Court

138 North Court Street

PO Box 545

Wampsville, NY 13163

Phone: (315) 231–5301

Fax: (646) 963–6588

Monroe County

Monroe County Court

Hall of Justice

99 Exchange Blvd, Room 545

Rochester, NY 14614

Phone: (518) 853–3834

Fax: (518) 853–8396

Montgomery County

Montgomery County Court

58 Broadway

PO Box 1500

Fonda, NY 12068

Phone: (516) 493–3710

Nassau County

Nassau County Court

262 Old Country Road

Mineola, NY 11501

Phone: (516) 493–3710

Niagara County

Niagara County Court

Angelo A. Delsignore Civic Building

775 3rd Street

Niagara Falls, NY 14301

Phone: (716) 280–6400

Fax: (716) 280–6424

Oneida County

Oneida County Court

Oneida County Courthouse

200 Elizabeth Street

Utica, NY 13501

Phone: (315) 266–4200

Fax: (315) 793–6047

Onondaga County

Onondaga County Court

Onondaga County/City of Syracuse Criminal Courthouse

505 South State Street

Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315) 671–1020

Fax: (315) 671–1191

Ontario County

Ontario County Court

27 North Main Street

Canandaigua, NY 14424

Phone: (585) 412–5300

Fax: (585) 412–5327

Orange County

Orange County Court

285 Main Street

Goshen, NY 10924

Phone: (845) 476–3500

Fax: (845) 291–2525

Orleans County

Orleans County Court

1 South Main Street, Suite 3

Albion, NY 14411

Phone: (585) 283–6622

Fax: (585) 589–0632

Oswego County

Oswego County Court

Oswego County Courthouse

25 East Oneida Street

Oswego, NY 13126

Phone: (315) 207–7504

Fax: (315) 266–4519

Otsego County

Otsego County Court

197 Main Street

Cooperstown, NY 13326

Phone: (607) 322–3140

Fax: (646)963–6663

Email: otsegosupremecounty@nycourts.gov

Putnam County

Putnam County Court

20 County Center

Carmel, NY 10512

Phone: (845) 208–7830

Fax: (845) 208–7869

Rensselaer County

Rensselaer County Court

80 Second Street

Troy, NY 12180

Phone: (518) 285–5025

Fax: (518) 285–5077

Rockland County

Rockland County Court

1 South Main Street

New City, NY 10956

Phone: (845) 483–8310

Fax: (914) 358–8058

Saratoga County

Saratoga County Court

30 McMaster Street

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

Phone: (518) 451–8840

Fax: (518) 453–5937

Schenectady County

Schenectady County Court

612 State Street

Schenectady, NY 12305

Phone: (518) 285–8401

Fax: (518) 451–8731

Schoharie County

Schoharie County Court

Schoharie County Courthouse

290 Main Street

PO Box 669

Schoharie, NY 12157

Phone: (518) 295–8342

Fax: (518) 295–7226

Schuyler County

Schuyler County Court

Schuyler County Courthouse

105 9th Street, Unit 35

Watkins Glen, NY 14891

Phone: (607) 228–3350

Fax: (646) 963–6590

Seneca County

Seneca County Court

48 West Williams Street

Waterloo, NY 13165

Phone: (315) 835–6229

Fax: (315) 835–6234

St. Lawrence County

St. Lawrence County Court

St. Lawrence County Courthouse

48 Court Street

Canton, NY 13617

Phone: (315) 379–2219

Fax: (315) 379–2423

Steuben County

Steuben County Court

3 East Pulteney Square

Bath, NY 14810

Phone: (607) 622–8219

Fax: (607) 622–8244

Suffolk County

Suffolk County Court

Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex

210 Center Drive

Riverhead, NY 11901

Phone: (631) 852–2120

Fax: (631) 852–2568

Sullivan County

Sullivan County Court

Lawrence H. Cooke Sullivan County Courthouse

414 Broadway

Monticello, NY 12701

Phone: (845) 791–3540

Fax: (845) 476–3653

Tioga County

Tioga County Court

20 Court Street

PO Box 307

Owego, NY 13827

Phone: (607) 689–6102

Fax: (212) 401–5970

Tompkins County

Tompkins County Court

320 North Tioga Street

PO Box 70

Ithaca, NY 14851

Phone: (607) 216–6610

Fax: (212) 401–9071

Ulster County

Ulster County Court

Ulster County Courthouse

285 Wall Street

Kingston, NY 12401

Phone: (845) 481–9375

Fax: (845) 476–3619

Warren County

Warren County Court

1340 State Route 9

Lake George, NY 12845

Phone: (518) 480–6335

Fax: (845) 476–3619

Washington County

Washington County Court

383 Broadway

Fort Edward, NY 12828

Phone: 518–746–2521

Fax: 518–746–2519

Wayne County

Wayne County Court

54 Broad Street

Lyons, NY 14489

Phone: (315) 665–8117

Fax: (315) 665–8111

Westchester County

Westchester County Court

111 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

White Plains, NY 10601

Phone: (914) 824–5300 (Civil)

Fax: (914) 824–5873 (Civil)

Phone: (914) 824–5400 (Criminal)

Fax: (914) 824–5065 (Criminal)

Wyoming County

Wyoming County Court

147 North Main Street

Warsaw, NY 14569

Phone: (585) 228–3199

Fax: (585) 228–3236

Yates County

Yates County Court

415 Liberty Street

Penn Yan, NY 14527

Phone: (315) 835–6308

Fax: (315) 835–6309