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
P.O. 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
P.O. Box 292
Mayville, NY 14757
Phone: (716) 753–4266
Fax: (716) 753–4993

Chemung County
Chemung County Court
Hazlett Building
224 Lake Street
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. Box 307
Owego, NY 13827
Phone: (607) 689–6102
Fax: (212) 401–5970

Tompkins County
Tompkins County Court
320 North Tioga Street
P.O. 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