New York State Unified Court System - Local Courts

Local Courts

• District Courts are the local criminal and civil courts in Nassau County and the five western towns of Suffolk County, arraign felonies and try misdemeanors and lesser offenses, as well as civil lawsuits involving claims of up to $15,000, Small Claims and Small Commercial Claims up to $5000, and landlord-tenant actions. District Court Judges are elected to 6 year terms.

• City Courts handle the arraignment of felonies. They try misdemeanors and lesser offenses as well as civil lawsuits involving claims of up to $15,000. Some City Courts have small claims parts for the informal disposition of matters involving claims of up to $5,000 and/or housing parts to handle landlord-tenant matters and housing violations. City Court judges may be elected or appointed, depending upon the city. Full-time City Court judges serve 10-year terms. Part-time City Court judges serve six-year terms.

• Town and Village Justice Courts try misdemeanors and lesser offenses. They also arraign defendants accused of felonies. These courts may hear civil lawsuits involving claims of up to $3,000 (including Small Claims cases of up to $3,000). Justices are elected to four-year terms. The majority of justices are not attorneys. Non-attorney justices must successfully complete a certification course and participate in continuing judicial education. The Town and Village Justice Courts ate locally funded, as opposed to the state-funded City and District courts.

• The New York City Criminal Court and the New York City Civil Court are local courts in the 5 boroughs of New York City.