WHAT IS JUSTICE COURT?

WHAT IS JUSTICE COURT?

            Justice Court is the judicial branch of our local Town and Village governments.  Justice Courts try misdemeanors and lesser offenses in towns and villages that are outside of areas with District Courts.  All of the criminal cases in our town start in the Justice Court, including arraignments and preliminary matters on unindicted felonies.  Justice Courts handle a variety of other matters including small claims, traffic ticket cases and local zoning matters.  Justice 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.  Statewide, the majority of justices are not attorneys.  Non-attorney justices must successfully complete a certification course and participate in continuing judicial education.  Non-attorney justices are especially prevalent in the more sparsely populated areas of New York State.  However, in all of the Justice Courts of Suffolk County only admitted attorneys have presided for many years.  In addition, East Hampton Justice Court continues to rank as one of the busiest Justice Courts in New York State.  Because of its caseload, experienced attorneys have presided over it for many years.  It is also important that the court is accessible to all of our citizens and has the resources necessary to meet the demands of our busy court.

            Justice Courts differ from the District Courts of western Suffolk County in several ways.  District Courts can hear civil lawsuits involving claims of up to $15,000, Small Claims and Small Commercial Claims up to $5000, and District Court Judges are elected to six-year terms.  Appeals of decisions of our Court are taken to the Appellate Term for the Second Judicial Department.  Town and Village Justice Courts are locally funded, as opposed to the state-funded City and District courts.  In my opinion, this helps integrate Justice Courts into the needs of the community.  Only by understanding the needs of our community can our Justice Court fairly administer justice.

            Our court system is the judicial branch of government in action.  From local Justice Courts to the Supreme Court of the United States, our courts administer the laws of their respective jurisdictions.

            Understanding the role of town and village courts can help the public understand that the judicial branch is as important to our government as the legislative and executive branches.  However, no court in the judicial branch has authority to finance its operations, raise taxes, or otherwise support itself.  Therefore, our Justice Court relies on the Town and Village Boards for the funding of facilities and staff. 

            Local Justice Courts’ goal is to serve the people by providing justice and to fulfill the notions of a separate, independent judicial branch as set forth by our forefathers in the Constitution.  Justice must be substantial, timely, and equal to the people and parties who come before it, and to the community it serves.