New York Supreme Court and Other Trial Courts
Under the New York Constitution, the New York Supreme Court has unlimited civil jurisdiction and unlimited criminal jurisdiction. In practice, the New York Supreme Court hears civil actions that concern large sums. Civil actions about lesser sums are heard by courts of limited jurisdiction, such as the County Court and the New York City Civil Court.
Small civil actions are heard by courts of more-limited jurisdiction, such as the District Court in Nassau County, and the District Court in the five western towns of Suffolk County. Plus Town Courts, City Courts and Village Courts in rural areas.
Also in practice, the New York Supreme Court hears felony criminal cases in the five counties wholly within New York City: Bronx, New York, Richmond, Kings and Queens. An anomaly is that, in Bronx County, the New York Supreme Court hears misdemeanor criminal cases, too.
Outside New York City, the County Court hears felony criminal cases.
Misdemeanor criminal cases can be heard by the New York City Criminal Court, by the District Court in Nassau County, and by the District Court in the five western towns of Suffolk County. The least criminal cases are heard by Town Courts, City Courts and Village Courts.
There are specialized courts: probate matters are heard in the Surrogate's Court; juvenile delinquency and child custody matters are heard in the Family Court; and tort and contract claims against the State of New York are heard in the Court of Claims.
The New York Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction of matrimonial actions (divorce or annulment), declaratory judgments, and suits against public officials for arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable conduct. Those suits are provided for in Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules. In addition, the New York Supreme Court has jurisdiction over most equity claims, such as those that sound in specific performance or rescission.
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