Information on Our Local Courts


Home What We Do Talking with Us Our People Making an Appointment How to Find Us Ways to Help Us Help You Information on Our Local Courts Our Newsletter and Brochure Directory of Related Links	Information on Our Local Courts (Town and Village Courts) Some Frequently Asked Questions: • What is the difference between "regular" court and "pre-trial" sessions? At a "regular" session, a Town or Village Court will begin criminal cases with a short "arraignment" proceeding and schedule other matters. At a "pre-trial" session, a prosecutor (usually an Assistant District Attorney or "ADA") is present to discuss the status of on-going criminal proceedings. • What is the difference between a town or village court and the County or Family Court? The main difference is that a Town or Village Court is headed by a person who lives in that town or village, whereas the County or Family Court is headed by a person who lives in the same county. Thus, you can expect a Town or Village Court judge to be more familiar with the local situation as is appropriate for a court that is asked to address more local, minor crimes and disputes. The other major difference is that a Town or Village Court justice is not required to be a lawyer. Once elected, any justice (even a lawyer-justice) undergoes a lengthy training process, but at the town and village level the judge is likely not a lawyer. County and Family Court judges are required to be lawyers. • How should I dress for Court? ALWAYS dress well for Court. Court is "game time"—dress for it! Wear "Sunday best" or, at least, clean, conservative clothes— jeans and a dress shirt, a conservative dress or similar clothes are always appropriate! • My car broke down, my babysitter cancelled or something else happened and I cannot come to Court - what should I do? Please remember it is important to appear ON TIME for all court appearances unless we tell you that your appearance is not necessary. If you even think you may miss a Court date, please call us to let us know the reason. If you cannot reach us—and ONLY if you cannot reach us—then call the Court and advise the Court. The Court telephone numbers are here on our "Information on Our Local Courts" page. It is NEVER acceptable to fail to appear in Court. It may not be easy, but it is better to bring the kids to Court than not to appear. Walk if you have no other way to go. When you do not appear in Court, a judge thinks you are not taking the matter seriously and, therefore, see little reason to give you the relief you seek. • How long will Court take? The amount of time Court will take depends a lot on what you need to do and whether it is a regular or pre-trial session. Arraignments at regular sessions can take as little as five minutes. Pre-trial sessions tend to be longer since the Court is reviewing all of the cases currently on its docket. Different courts have different policies on the order in which they call their cases. If you have a time issue, please call us before the appearance so we can help you plan appropriately. • I want to sue someone: which Court can hear my claim? For civil actions (two people suing each other), the Court which will hear the case depends on the dollar amount sought by the parties. Cases up to $3,000 are heard in town or village court, cases between $3,000 and $50,000 are heard in County Court and cases beyond $50,000 are heard in the New York State Supreme Court (New York's trial level court). City Court is like town and village court and handles many of the same kinds of actions, but can hear cases with values of up to $15,000. • Where can I bring an eviction OR I'm being evicted - - am I in the right Court? Evictions are normally heard in the City, Town or Village Court for the city, town or village where the property is. • Why is my criminal charge or traffic ticket being heard in this particular court? There are three categories describing the punishments for breaking the law: felonies, misdemeanors and violations. Generally, felonies are punishable by more than one year in state prison, misdemeanors are punishable by between 15 days and 1 year in a local jail and violations or tickets are punishable by no more than 15 days in a local jail. Missdemeanors or violations are prosecuted in town or village court. While felonies may start in a town or village court for their first appearane, a felony can only be tried in a County Court. • What about neighbor disputes? Neighbor disputes are some of the most difficult for any court. Before you run to a judge, seriously consider alternative dispute resolution, like Community Dispute Resolution or Collaborative Law. • But my dispute involves where my boundary line is? If that is the case, then you will need to bring your action in the Supreme Court: town and village courts cannot handle real estate disputes except evictions. • Why do I have to go to Ithaca, Cortland or Auburn for my divorce or custody action - I don't have transport and my town court is closer? Divorces are actions in the Supreme Court while custody, visitation and support are all actions in the Family Court. Town and village courts are not able to handle these cases. • What happens if I know the judge? If you know a judge, do not try to discuss your case with the judge before appearing in Court: not only do rules governing judicial behavior frown on such discussions, but judges do not like being "put on the spot" any more than you do! • Why don't you list the County, Family, Surrogate or Supreme Courts here? These courts have even more complex schedules and, therefore, prefer to work with the public through their attorneys unless you are proceeding without a lawyer. If there is a need to advise those courts of a delay in your appearance or inability to appear, you can find their telephone numbers in the telephone directory under "Tompkins County", "Cortland County" or "Cayuga County." Tompkins County Courts (listed clockwise around Cayuga Lake) Town Court, Town of Groton (2 judges) Groton Court Website Judge Arthur Dawson Clerk Cindy Vicedomini 101 Conger Boulevard, Groton, NY 13073 607-898-3711 Regular Court Session: Thursdays 10 a.m. A.D.A.: Andrew Bonavia Pre-trial Conference Day: 4th Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. Judge John Norman Clerk Cindy Vicedomini 101 Conger Boulevard, Groton, NY 13073 607-898-5273 Regular Court Session: Mondays 5 p.m. A.D.A.: Andrew Bonavia Pre-trial Conference Day: 2nd Monday of the month at 5 p.m. Town Court, Town of Dryden (2 judges) Judge Joseph J. Valentinelli Clerk Debra Smiley 65 East Main Street, Dryden, NY 13053 607-844-8621 Regular Court Session: Tuesdays 9 a.m. A.D.A.: Linda Gafford Pre-trial Conference Day: 1st Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. Judge Christopher E. Clauson Clerk Deborah Gallagher 65 East Main Street, Dryden, NY 13053 607-844-8621 Regular Court Session: Mondays 6 p.m. A.D.A.: Gary Surdell Pre-trial Conference Day: 1st Monday of the month, 7 p.m. Village Court, Village of Freeville (Freeville is in the Town of Dryden) Judge Arthur Marchese Clerk Karen Lee Marquis 5 Factory Street, Freeville, NY 13068 607-844-8470 Regular Court Session: Second and last Wednesdays 7 p.m. A.D.A.: Daniel Johnson Pre-trial Conference Day: 2nd Wednesday of the month Town Court, Town of Lansing (2 judges - 1 current vacancy) Judge John C. Howell Clerk Lynnette Geiger Clerk Penny Grant 29 Auburn Road, Lansing, NY 14882 607-533-4776 Regular Court Session: Thursday 7 p.m. A.D.A.: Andrew McElwee Pre-trial Conference Day: Every six weeks on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. Town Court, Town of Ithaca (2 judges) Judge David L. Klein Clerk Linda Fetherbay 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-273-0493 Regular Court Session: Wednesdays 5 p.m. A.D.A.: Michael Carman Pre-trial Conference Day: 4th Wednesday of the month Judge James A. Salk Clerk Betty Poole (Clerk Poole is also a Judge in the Town of Enfield) 215 North Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-273-0493 Regular Court Session: Thursday 9 a.m. A.D.A.: Michael Carman Pre-trial Conference Day: 4th Thursday of the month City Court, City of Ithaca (2 judges) Ithaca City Court Website Judge Judith Rossiter Judge James Kerrigan Chief Clerk James Jacen 118 East Clinton Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-273-2263 Regular Court Session • Criminal Matters: Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. • Civil Matters: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. A.D.A.s: Brad Rudin, Gary Surdell Pre-trial Conference Day: as set by the Court; prosecutors are always available in Court Village Court, Village of Cayuga Heights Judge Glenn G. Galbreath Clerk Patricia Kannus 836 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-257-3944 Regular Court Session: Tuesday 6 p.m. A.D.A.: Andrew Bonavia Pre-trial Conference Day: 2nd Thursday of the month Town Court, Town of Caroline (2 judges) Judge Harold Phoenix Clerk Rachel L. Brown P.O. Box 121, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881 607-539-7796 Regular Court Session: Mondays 5 p.m. A.D.A.: Andrew Bonavia Pre-trial Conference Day: 3rd Monday of the month Judge Paul Grennell Clerk Rachel L. Brown P.O. Box 121, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881 607-539-7796 Regular Court Session: Wednesday 8 a.m. A.D.A.: Andrew Bonavia Pre-trial Conference Day: 3rd Wednesday of the month Town Court, Town of Danby (2 judges) Judge Theresa Klinger Clerk James N. Herson 1830 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-4788 Regular Court Session: Tuesdays 7 p.m. A.D.A.: Daniel Johnson Pre-trial Conference Day: 1st Tuesday of the month Judge Garry Huddle Clerk James M. Herson 1830 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-4788 Regular Court Session: Tuesdays 7 p.m. A.D.A.: Daniel Johnson Pre-trial Conference Day: 1st Tuesday of the month Town Court, Town of Enfield (2 judges) Judge James Varricchio Clerk Carolyn Thall 168 Enfield Main Road 607-273-0363 Regular Court Session: Thursdays 5 p.m. A.D.A.: Michael Carman Pre-trial Conference Day: 2nd Thursday of the month, 9:30 a.m. Judge Betty Poole (Note: Judge Poole is a clerk of the Town Court, Town of Ithaca) Clerk Beverly Hubbard 168 Enfield Main Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-273-0363 Regular Court Session: Mondays 5 p.m. A.D.A.: Michale Carman Pre-trial Conference Day: 2nd Monday of the month Town Court, Town of Newfield (2 judges) Judge Gary P. Allen Clerk Elizabeth Allen 166 Main Street, Newfield, NY 14867 607-564-9571 Regular Court Session: Mondays at 1 p.m. A.D.A.: Andrew McElwee Pre-trial Conference Day: Last Wednesday of the month 6:30 p.m. Judge Debbi J. Payne Clerk Linda Becker 166 Main Street, Newfield, NY 14867 607-564-9571 Regular Court Session: Thursdays at 3 p.m. A.D.A.: Andrew McElwee Pre-trial Conference Day: Last Wednesday of the month 6:30 p.m. Town Court, Town of Ulysses (2 judges) Judge Roger N. Rector Clerk Michele Townely 10 Elm Street, Trumansburg, NY 14886 607-387-5411 Regular Court Session: Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. A.D.A.: Daniel Johnson Pre-trial Conference Day: 3rd Tuesday of the month 9:30 a.m. Selected Cortland County Courts Town Court, Town of Cortlandville Judge Francis Casullo Chief Clerk Mary Caufield 3577 Terrace Road, Cortland, NY 13045 607-756-2352 Regular Court Session: Monday and Tuesday mornings (exact times vary) A.D.A.: Kevin Jones Pre-trial Conference Day: Varies City Court, City of Cortland Judge Thomas Meldrim Judge Elizabeth Burns Chief Clerk Catherine Maloney 25 Court Street, Cortland, NY 13045 607-753-1311 Regular Court Sessions: Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting at 9:30 a.m. A.D.A.: Christopher I. Simser, Sr. Pre-trial Conference Day: Varies, A.D.A. always present in regular court sessions Town Court, Town of Harford Judge Sharon Canfield (no clerk) P.O. Box 10, Harford, NY 13784 607-844-3982 (answering machine) Regular Court Session: Second and Fourth Wednesdays 5:30 pm to 7 p.m. A.D.A.: varies Pre-trial Conference Day: Varies Town Court, Town of Homer Judge Karen Caminiti Clerk Nancy Murphy 4 Water Street, Homer, New York 13077 607-749-2326 Regular Court Session: weekly on Mondays at 5 p.m. A.D.A.: varies Pre-trial Conference Day: Varies Selected Cayuga County Courts Town Court, Town of Locke Judge Philip Franklin Clerk June Shepardson (Clerk Shepardson is also a Judge in the Town of Moravia) Locke Town Hall, Route 38, Locke, NY 13092 (mailing address: P.O. Box 149, Locke) 315-497-2932 Regular Court Session: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. A.D.A.: Charles Thomas Pre-trial Conference Day: 1st Wednesday of the month Town Court, Town of Moravia Village Court, Village of Moravia Judge June Shepardson (Note: Judge Shepardson is a clerk of the Town Court, Town of Locke) (no clerk) 139 Main Street, Moravia, NY 13118 315-497-0968 Regular Court Session: Tuesdays at 6 p.m. A.D.A.: Charles Thomas Pre-trial Conference Day: Varies Town Court, Town of Summerhill Judge Sherry Davenport (no clerk) 13606 State Route 90, Locke, NY 13092 315-497-3496 Regular Court Session: Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. A.D.A.: Charles Thomas Pre-trial Conference Day: Varies
	Ward & Murphy 170 Main Street Groton, New York 13073 Main Office Phone: 607-898-3190 Main Office Fax: 607-898-3765 Ithaca Office Phone: 607-272-2816 Toll Free: 877-212-4722 Ithaca Office Alternate Line: 607-280-4954 Liam.Murphy@clarityconnect.com disclaimer