Judicial Review
The Queens Courts

Queens District Attorney’s Office

In a borough of millions, hundreds plead their case in Queens courts every day. This guide will help steer you through the Queens legal system .

Main Office
125-01 Queens Blvd.,
Kew Gardens, NY 11415
Phone: (718) 286-6000
24-Hour Hotline: (718) 286-6580

Additional Offices:
120-55 Queens Blvd.,
Kew Gardens, NY 11415
80-02 Kew Gardens Rd.,
Kew Gardens, NY 11415

Victims
If you’ve been the victim of a crime, call 911 or your local police precinct (check page 39). Police are the ones who will gather information, evidence and officially start the legal process.

District Attorney
Once sufficient information and evidence is gathered and an arrest is made, the borough’s top law enforcement official, District Attorney Richard Brown, steps in. His office prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the public at no cost to the victim(s).

The Queens District Attorney maintains a Web site, www.queensda.org , a directory of important phone numbers, and general information about each bureau and crime fighting task force in his jurisdiction. He also publishes press releases about notable cases, but information about the victim is kept anonymous.

For more information, call the main number at (718) 286-6000.

Defendants

Victims are not the only ones with free lawyers at their disposal.

Those arrested for on criminal charges (drugs, assault, robbery) may request the presence of a lawyer when questioned by authorities. These lawyers are appointed by the court and paid for by the public. Those court-appointed lawyers can be replaced at the defendant’s discretion for one of their choosing. Private defense attorneys can be found in the phone book or online.

Parking Tickets

Meter maids may have ticketed your vehicle, but as in all court proceedings, you’re innocent until proven guilty. To be absolved of the fine, ticket receivers can plead their case at one of two Traffic Violations Bureau courts, run under the jurisdiction of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Instead of paying the ticket, those wishing to fight their fines must declare their desire to fight the case and indicate whether or not they will submit evidence (photographs, receipts, affidavits). If the plaintiff (the agent who issued the ticket) does not appear for the hearing, the ticket is usually dismissed in favor of the defendant.

Defendants are allowed, but not required, to have legal representation, and/or a guardian present during all phases of the proceeding. In those courts, the ticket and testimony of the plaintiff are usually enough evidence for the charges to be upheld.

Administration (718) 286-6920
Anti-Bias and Youth Gang Bureau (718) 286-7044
Appeals Bureau (718) 286-5800
Auto Crime Task Force (718) 286-6661
Career Criminals Major Crime Bureau (718) 286-7041
Case Information (719) 286-6000
Civil Enforcement Bureau (718) 286-6533
Communications (718) 286-6315
Community Service Program (718) 286-6059
Computer Advanced Technology Crimes Unit (718) 286-7006
Consumer Frauds (718) 286-5910
Crime Victims Advocate Program (718) 286-6818
Criminal Court Bureau (718) 286-6032
District Attorney Detective Bureau (718) 286-6530
District Attorney Police Squad (24-Hour Hotline) (718) 286-6580
Domestic Violence Bureau (718) 286-6550
Economic Crimes Bureau (718) 286-6675
Family Court Bureau (718) 526-6040
Gang Violence and Hate Crimes Bureau (718) 285-7044
Grand Jury Bureau (718) 286-6816
Homicide Investigations Bureau (718) 286-5953
Homicide Trial Bureau (718) 286-5896
Information Services (718) 286-6710
Intake Bureau (718) 286-6850
Integrity Bureau (718) 286-6560
Investigations Division (718) 286-6600
Legal Affairs Division (718) 286-5843
Major Crimes Division (718) 286-7070
Management and Budget Division (718) 286-6330
Narcotic Investigations Bureau (718) 286-6638
Narcotic Trials Bureau (718) 286-6221
Operations Division (718) 286-6340
Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau (718) 286-6313
Recruitment Office (718) 286-6313
Second Chance Program (718) 286-6720
Special Proceedings Bureau (718) 286-6400
Special Victims Bureau (718) 286-6505
Supreme Court Trial Bureau I (KGI) (718) 286-6146
Supreme Court Trial Bureau II (KGII) (718) 286-6930
Trial Division (718) 286-6230

The Courts Are Now In Session
Commissioner of Jurors: (718) 298-1206
Law Library: (718) 520-3140
Legal Aid: (718) 286-2000
County Clerk: (718) 520-3136

SUPREME COURT
(Three Locations: Civil, Criminal and a combined Civil and Criminal)
Supreme Civil Court
88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435
(718) 298-1000;
Fax: (718) 520-2204
Handles cases involving claims of $50,000 or more.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Parking: Public parking one block from courthouse. Private parking lots across from courthouse.

ADA Accessibility: Entrance ramp located at rear of building (148th Street).

Supreme Criminal Court
125-01 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens, NY 11415
(718) 520-3542; Fax: (718) 520-2494
Handles felony and other major charges, such as murder.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking: A municipal lot is located behind the building at the intersection of 126th Street and 82nd Avenue.
ADA Accessibility: Entrance ramp in front of courthouse.

Criminal And Civil Court

25-10 Court Sq., Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 298-1616; Fax: (718) 520-2539

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking: Public parking located behind courthouse.
ADA Accessibility: Courthouse has ramp at front entrance.
Criminal Court
125-01 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens, NY 11415
(718) 520-5880; Fax: (718) 520-4712
Handles misdemeanor and other lesser charges, such as drunk driving.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday through Saturday
Same general information as Supreme Court- Criminal Term.

CIVIL COURT – SMALL CLAIMS & HOUSING
89-17 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435
Gen. Info.: (212) 791-6000
Civil: (718) 262-7100; Fax: (718) 262-7107

The Civil Court has jurisdiction over civil cases involving amounts up to $25,000 and other civil matters referred to it by the Supreme Court. It includes a small claims part for informal dispositions of matters not exceeding $5,000 and a housing part for landlord-tenant matters of unlimited amounts and housing code violations.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Small Claims: 9 a.m to 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday
Small Claims Court: 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday
Housing: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday.
ADA Accessibility: The courthouse is accessible to persons with disabilities. Contact the court for specific accommodations.
Parking: Municipal parking lot under building.

FAMILY COURT

151-20 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica, NY 11432
(718) 298-0197; Fax (718) 297-2826
Handles cases involving minors, such as custody disputes.

Parking: Metered Street Parking. A Municipal Parking Facility is located on the
corner of Archer Avenue and 150th Street.
ADA Accessibility: Accessible entrances on Jamaica and Archer avenues. Accessible rest rooms. Assisted listening devices available upon request.
Courthouse Services: Vending machines, children’s center Room 180
Special Services: Satellite Office, 25-10 Court Square, Long Island City, (718) 261-8283 (for filing petitions and obtaining orders of protection).

 

SURROGATE’S COURT

88-11 Sutphin Blvd., 7th Floor, Jamaica, NY 11435
(718) 520-3132
Handles mainly issues over wills and estates.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Same general information as Supreme Court-Civil Term
Juror Information
If you are a registered voter in the City of New York, you will most certainly be called to do jury duty.

Under a more stringent system, people who were never eligible before for duty are now being called and excuses for not serving have been severely cut back. Your employer cannot penalize you if you are called to jury duty or if you are selected to serve.

For more information on jury duty, answers to frequently asked questions, and updated information on whether or not the number you were assigned by a mailed jury duty notification has been called, log on to www.nyjuror.com.

If you have further questions about jury duty, you can call the County Clerk’s office at (718) 520-3137.

–Information courtesy of the New York State Unified Court System website at www.courts.state.ny.us/

 

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