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New York Court Levels

Understand where different types of cases are handled in New York State.

Town, Village, and City Courts (Justice Courts)

The Starting Point

These are the local courts where most people have their first experience with the court system. They are located in the community where the event happened.

What kinds of cases they handle:

  • Traffic Tickets: Speeding, running a red light, etc.
  • Violations: Less serious offenses like harassment or disorderly conduct.
  • Misdemeanors: Less serious crimes where the punishment is one year in jail or less (e.g., petty theft, simple assault).
  • Arraignments for Felonies: They handle the very first court appearance for serious crimes (felonies), but the rest of the case moves to a higher court.
County and Supreme Courts (Higher Courts)

For More Serious Crimes

When a crime is more serious, it is handled by a higher court with more power.

What kinds of cases they handle:

  • Felonies: These are the most serious crimes, where the punishment can be more than one year in state prison. Examples include robbery, burglary, or serious assault.
  • Felony Trials: All parts of a felony case after the arraignment, including the trial, plea bargains, and sentencing, happen in County or Supreme Court.

A Note on "Supreme Court"

It can be confusing, but in New York State, the "Supreme Court" is a trial court for serious cases, not the highest court in the state (that's the Court of Appeals). For criminal matters, the County Court and Supreme Court do very similar work.