Suffolk County Supreme Court Case Search

In Suffolk County, the Supreme Court maintains records of court events and makes them available upon request from public members. However, certain records are exempt or withheld if they contain information whose disclosure is not in the public interest. Examples of exempt or restricted records include the following:

• Court documents that may interfere with judicial proceedings
• Documents that are exempt under court order or laws

What kinds of cases have been heard in Suffolk Supreme Court?

The Suffolk County Supreme Court typically hears cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of lower courts. In this context, lower courts refer to courts that have limited jurisdiction over court cases. With that being said, the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over court cases listed in the table below:

Suffolk County Supreme Court

In Suffolk County, the Supreme Court is the highest trial court in the county. It has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. In addition, it shares jurisdiction with the family and county courts over some civil, criminal, probate, and family law cases. Note that the court will generally oversee cases that carry harsher penalties or have a higher financial threshold. For instance, the Supreme Court hears general civil claims in which the disputed amount is more than $25,000.

Local residents may file cases at these courts to resolve disputes, get justice, or document life events. With that being said, residents can find the courts at these locations:

Supreme Courts in Suffolk County
Suffolk County Supreme Court
Hon. Alan D. Oshrin Supreme Court Building
1 Court Street
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: (631) 852-2334
Fax: (631) 852-2340

Suffolk County Supreme Court
Cohalan Court Complex
400 Carleton Avenue
P.O. Box 9075
Central Islip, NY 11722
Phone: (631) 853-5423
Fax: (631) 853-5385

Suffolk County Supreme Court
Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex
210 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: (631) 852-2334

Suffolk County Case Lookup

Interested parties can look up Suffolk court cases through resources provided by government entities. The request options include the following:

Online searches for court records

The New York State Unified Court System maintains search databases for court cases filed within the county. The databases include:

• The WebCriminal database for criminal cases filed in the county’s courts
• The WebCivil Supreme database is used for civil cases filed in the Supreme Court.
• WebFamily database for family law cases filed in the county.
• WebCivil Local database for civil cases filed in courts with limited jurisdiction.

To view court records on these databases, inquirers must select a search option and input the required case information. Available search options include searches by case number, indexes, attorney, and case parties.

The Suffolk County Clerk’s office also maintains a searchable portal for court minutes and related data. To find the records, users must input the court minute index number and case party’s names.

Mail-in requests for Suffolk County court records

The Suffolk County clerk’s office serves as the record custodian of cases handled in the county courts. For mail-based requests, applicants must follow these steps:

1. Create a written request that includes specifics about the requested document.
2. Include the required fee as a money order or check made payable to the Suffolk County Clerk.

Note: Certified copies of court documents cost a minimum of $5 and $1.25 per page if they exceed four pages. If unsure about the number of pages, inquirers may include a blank check and write "not to exceed X amount" on it. The court clerk will fill out the appropriate amount after fulfilling the request.

1. Include a valid ID if requesting a confidential or sealed record.
2. Mail the required documents in a postpaid return envelope to:
   Suffolk County Clerk
   Attention: Court Actions
   310 Center Drive
   Riverhead, NY 11901.

Note: The court clerk does not grant mail-based requests for entire court files.

Walk-in requests for court records in Suffolk

Interested parties can view court record files in person at the self-service copiers available in the Suffolk County clerk’s office at:
Court Actions Department
300 Center Drive
Riverhead, New York 11901

Suffolk Supreme Court Case Search by Name

Public members can conduct name-based searches for Suffolk County supreme court records through online repositories and walk-in requests. For instance, the New York State Unified Court System allows name-based searches for court records.

Note: Name-based searches are not reliable options for finding court records since they may bring up other case parties with similar names. To fine-tune the search result, inquirers must include case details like the case number, party name, or filing date.

Suffolk Supreme Court Docket Search

Court dockets (also referred to as court calendars) contain a list of court-related activities, including filings, case proceedings, orders, and hearings. The records provide a court case's timeline, which is regularly updated to reflect new information.

To find court dockets in Suffolk County, inquirers may use the state’s case search database. The database features court docket information for different case types. Inquirers must first select the case type and input the required information to view court case dockets.

In contrast, the county clerk’s office maintains an online database of court minutes and related documents. Note that court minutes are often included in court dockets. To search court minutes, inquirers must provide the minute index and case parties’ names.

Court docket searches are important since they provide records of everything that occurred in a case. Searching court dockets also helps in the following ways:

• It helps users determine if the court follows standard procedures.
• It enables users to obtain evidence that a court event occurred.

Lookup Suffolk County Supreme Court Online

Government-owned websites maintain online access to Supreme Court records in Suffolk County. The online websites may include:

• The New York State Unified Court System.
  • WebCivil Supreme database for civil cases filed in the Supreme Court.
  • WebFamily database for family law cases filed in the county.
• The Suffolk County clerk’s case minute search.

In contrast, third-party search websites like Newyorkcourtrecords.us may provide online access to Suffolk County supreme court records. These websites are generally easy to use and do not restrict users from out-of-state or country locations. In addition, some sites allow direct downloads of court documents. Despite these perks, third-party search sites are mostly unregulated and are not reliable options for finding court information.

Court of Appeals Court vs. Supreme Court

Suffolk County’s Supreme Court is the highest trial court, unlike in other states where it serves as the final appellate court. In New York, the Court of Appeals has the highest appellate authority, and it oversees the following cases:

• Appeals from lower courts and intermediate appellate courts.
• Appeals from the state commission on judicial-related conduct.
• Decisions concerning law-related issues in the state.