- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
What are New York Court Records?
New York State has over 19.6 million residents, making it the fourth-most populous state in the United States. The court structure in the state varies slightly for civil and criminal cases. However, both structures are three-tiered, with main appellate courts, intermediate appellate courts, and courts of original instance.
New York Court Records are official documents generated and maintained by the New York State court system, documenting legal proceedings. These records provide a historical account of various legal matters, including:
Docket Sheet
A court docket is a chronological record of all official actions and documents related to a legal case. It outlines the case's progression, including filed documents, court orders, hearings, and other key events.
Judgments and Orders
These are formal court decisions that dictate specific actions or restrictions for the involved parties. They represent the court's resolution of disputed issues in a case.
Transcripts
Court transcripts are verbatim written records of everything spoken during a court proceeding. They capture the dialogue between the judge, lawyers, witnesses, and other participants.
Evidence
Evidence includes any information or material presented in court to establish the truth or falsity of a claim or allegation.
Court Minutes
Court minutes summarize the judicial proceedings, decisions, and orders issued during a court hearing or trial.
Pleadings
Pleadings are formal written statements filed by parties involved in a lawsuit, outlining their legal positions and the facts supporting their claims or defenses.
Types of Court Cases
Court cases are divided into two primary categories: criminal and civil. Judges deciding criminal and civil cases have different powers. Judges can impose penalties for law violations in criminal cases, including sentencing someone to jail. In contrast, in civil cases, judges handle disputes between parties and can issue orders requiring individuals to pay money or fines or settle financial obligations. They also have the authority to make important decisions regarding family matters.
Civil Cases
Civil cases typically arise when one party brings legal action against another, whether an individual, a business, or a government entity. For instance, civil cases include Housing disputes (such as evictions or foreclosures)
- Family law issues (such as divorce, child custody, and support arrangements)
- Consumer-related matters (such as resolving debts, addressing bankruptcy, or dealing with unfair business practices)
Additionally, civil cases include matters relating to seeking financial compensation for damages (whether due to property loss, personal injury, or breach of contract).
Criminal Cases
In criminal cases, the government prosecutes an individual accused of violating the law by committing a crime. This individual, known as the defendant, faces charges that may result in serious consequences if found guilty. The burden of proof lies with the government, which must demonstrate the defendant's guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt". If the court determines the defendant to be guilty, the defendant may be punished with imprisonment, fines, or other forms of penalties imposed by the court.
Common examples of criminal cases in New York include:
- Murder
- Assault
- Drug trafficking
- Manslaughter
- Robbery
- Arson
What Are the Different Courts in New York?
New York's Unified Court System is a statewide judiciary headed by the Court of Appeals, with state-paid trial courts plus locally funded town, village and city courts, and an estimated annual budget of about $3.4 billion. Cases generally start in a local or specialized trial court and may be appealed through the Appellate Division to the Court of Appeals.
| Court Level | Court Name | Jurisdiction | Key Functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appellate | Court of Appeals | Final appeals in civil and criminal cases, with limited review of questions of law | State's highest court; seven judges decide questions of law and certified questions and supervise attorney admission. |
| Appellate | Supreme Court, Appellate Division (four departments) | Appeals from Supreme Court, County Court and other trial courts | Intermediate appeals court that reviews trial rulings and decides most appeals as of right; also oversees attorney discipline. |
| Appellate | Appellate Term of the Supreme Court | Appeals from city, town, village, district and NYC civil and criminal courts | Reviews decisions of local courts in the downstate judicial departments. |
| General Jurisdiction | Supreme Court | Civil cases of unlimited amount, matrimonial actions and felony trials in NYC | Main trial court with broad authority over divorce, equity, tort and commercial disputes. |
| General Jurisdiction | County Court | Felony prosecutions and civil cases up to $25,000 outside New York City | Handles indictable crimes and smaller civil actions in each upstate county. |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Court of Claims | Claims for money damages against the State of New York | Hears tort and contract claims against the state, including inmate and highway claims. |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Surrogate's Court | Probate, estates, adoption and guardianship | Administers wills and estates and handles adoptions and guardianships in each county. |
| Limited Jurisdiction | Family Court | Child custody, support, neglect, abuse, juvenile delinquency and family offenses | Statewide court for family disputes; issues protection orders and supervises child welfare cases. |
| Limited Jurisdiction | New York City Civil and Housing Courts | Civil claims up to $50,000, small claims and landlord-tenant disputes in NYC | Resolves consumer debt, small claims and eviction cases. |
| Limited Jurisdiction | New York City Criminal Court | Misdemeanors, violations and felony arraignments in NYC | Conducts arraignments, bail decisions, pleas and misdemeanor trials. |
| Limited Jurisdiction | District, City, Town and Village Justice Courts | Traffic, misdemeanors, violations, small claims and local civil cases up to $3,000 to $15,000 | Locally funded courts that hear traffic and minor criminal cases and conduct early felony proceedings. |
How Many Federal Courts Are in New York?
New York State has four federal district courts: the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of New York. Each district court has its own set of active judges, and appeals from these courts are heard at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
These federal district courts have limited jurisdiction as they can only hear specific case types. They primarily handle cases involving diversity jurisdiction, where the parties are from different states, and federal question jurisdiction, which involves cases related to the U.S. Constitution or federal laws. Additionally, these courts have exclusive jurisdiction over certain matters governed by federal law, such as bankruptcy, patents, copyrights, and admiralty or maritime law.
How Many Court Cases Are Filed Each Year in New York?
New York's trial courts handle an estimated 2.7 million new filings a year, with civil, traffic and criminal matters making up the largest shares. Total dispositions run at roughly the same pace as new filings, for an estimated clearance rate near 100%.
| Case Type | Annual Filings | % of Total | Common Offense/Subtype | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic | ~700,000 | ~26.1% | Vehicle and Traffic Law infractions and misdemeanors in town, village and city courts | ~100% |
| Criminal | ~548,000 | ~20.5% | Misdemeanors, felonies, violations, infractions and indictments | ~100% |
| Civil | ~724,000 | ~27.0% | Supreme Court civil, NYC civil and housing, consumer debt, landlord-tenant | ~102% |
| Small Claims | ~60,000 | ~2.2% | Consumer, contractor and security deposit disputes | ~100% |
| Domestic Relations | ~456,000 | ~17.0% | Child custody, child support, paternity, family offenses | ~100% |
| Juvenile | ~40,000 | ~1.5% | Juvenile delinquency, persons in need of supervision, abuse and neglect | ~100% |
| Other | ~150,000 | ~5.6% | Surrogate's Court probate and estate proceedings | ~100% |
| Total | ~2,678,000 | 100% | — | ~100% |
How Do I Look Up Court Cases in New York?
The New York State judiciary provides multiple means for requesters to obtain court records in the state. If you intend to get a court record, you can use any of the following methods:
- E-filed Case Records Guest Search: You may search New York State supreme court cases and documents e-filed in the New York State Courts Electronic Filing system. You can search the system as a guest; no e-filing account is required.
- Criminal History Records Search (CHRS): You can obtain a criminal court record using the CHRS. Each record available from the CHRS costs $95.
- eCourts: Current and disposed case information in the state is available via the case search feature of the New York State Unified Courts System
- Court Records: Request for New York State court records may be made directly to the clerk of the court or the county clerk maintaining the record
- FOIL Request: New York State permits court records to be made available via Freedom of Information Law requests for access to agency administrative records
- Genealogy Research: Since 1787, probate records, including wills, have been filed and maintained by the surrogate's court in each county. These records can be accessed at the courthouse, although an appointment may be required. Some records may involve a fee to access. Use the Court Locator tool to locate the appropriate surrogate court for the county you are interested in.
Number of Active Judges — State & Federal
New York has roughly 3,100 state judges and justices across its appellate, trial, specialized and local courts, about 1,800 of them in locally elected town and village justice courts, plus 52 federal district judges in four districts. Selection methods range from gubernatorial appointment to local elections.
| Court | Jurisdiction | Active Judges | Selection Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court of Appeals | Highest state court | 7 | Appointed by the Governor from a commission list and confirmed by the Senate; 14-year terms |
| Supreme Court (including Appellate Division) | General jurisdiction trial court and intermediate appeals | ~500 | Elected by judicial district to 14-year terms; Appellate Division justices designated by the Governor |
| Court of Claims | Claims against the State | ~85 | Appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation; 9-year terms |
| County Court | Felonies and civil cases outside NYC | ~100 | Elected countywide; 10-year terms |
| Surrogate's Court | Estates, probate and adoption | ~31 | Elected; 10-year terms outside NYC and 14-year terms in NYC |
| Family Court | Family and juvenile matters | ~150 | Mayor appoints in NYC; elected elsewhere; 10-year terms |
| New York City Civil Court | Civil, housing and small claims in NYC | ~120 | Elected; vacancies filled by the Mayor; 10-year terms |
| New York City Criminal Court | Misdemeanors and arraignments in NYC | ~100 | Appointed by the Mayor; 10-year terms |
| District and City Courts | Local civil, criminal and traffic cases | ~200 | Elected or appointed by local officials; 6- to 10-year terms |
| Town and Village Justice Courts | Traffic, misdemeanors and small claims | ~1,800 | Elected locally; 4-year terms; law degree not required |
| U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York | Federal district court | 28 | Nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate; life tenure |
| U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York | Federal district court | 15 | Nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate; life tenure |
| U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York | Federal district court | 5 | Nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate; life tenure |
| U.S. District Court, Western District of New York | Federal district court | 4 | Nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate; life tenure |
| Total Active Judges | — | ~3,145 | — |
What Court Records Are Not Available to the Public in New York?
While the public has a common law right to access New York State court records, the right of access may be restricted by statute. Several New York State statutes limit access to court records where the interest in confidentiality outweighs the public interest in disclosure. These include:
- Family Court Records: Section 166 of the New York State Family Court Act provides that the records of any proceeding in family court are not open to indiscriminate public inspection. To access a family court record, the requester must apply to the court and outline the reasons for the request. It is solely within the court's discretion whether to allow the inspection of such records. Some persons, such as the parties and their representatives, are allowed to access family court records without application to the court.
- Sealed Records: Several New York statutes require that criminal case records be sealed under specific circumstances. According to Section 160.50 of the Criminal Procedure Law, records must be sealed when a defendant is acquitted of all charges or when the case is dismissed. Once sealed, these records are inaccessible to anyone other than the defendant, with limited exceptions for certain law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, CPL 720.35(2) mandates sealing court records when a defendant is adjudicated as a youthful offender. If a criminal case involving a juvenile offender is transferred to the family court under CPL Article 725, those records must also be sealed, as specified in CPL 725.15.
Section 4 of the judiciary law states that court proceedings in New York are generally open to the public, and any citizen may attend. However, the court has the discretion to exclude individuals not directly involved in cases involving sensitive matters such as divorce, abortion, rape, assault with intent to commit rape, sodomy, bastardy, or filiation.
While public access to trials is a fundamental right, the court has the authority to close a courtroom when necessary to maintain order, protect the parties and witnesses, or ensure the proper administration of justice. This discretion is typically only exercised in exceptional circumstances, and the court must conduct an inquiry to ensure that the right to a public trial is not compromised without compelling reasons.
Average Case Processing Time & Clearance Rates
Case processing times in New York vary by court and case type, from a single appearance for most traffic tickets to more than a year for complex civil and felony matters. The times below are estimates based on published caseload patterns.
| Case Type | Court Level | Average Processing Time | Description | Clearance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic & Parking | Limited Jurisdiction | ~1–3 months | Most tickets are resolved by plea or payment at one or two appearances in town, village and city courts. | ~100% |
| Small Claims | Limited Jurisdiction | ~2–4 months | Informal hearings before a judge or arbitrator, usually scheduled within weeks of filing. | ~100% |
| Misdemeanor Criminal | Limited Jurisdiction | ~6–10 months | Cases move from arraignment through discovery and plea negotiations; most end in plea or dismissal. | ~100% |
| Civil Cases | General Jurisdiction | ~18–30 months | Supreme Court cases move through preliminary conference, discovery and motion practice; most settle before trial. | ~102% |
| Domestic Relations | General Jurisdiction | ~6–12 months | Family Court and Supreme Court matters proceed through conferences, hearings and negotiated orders or judgments. | ~100% |
| Felony Criminal | General Jurisdiction | ~12–24 months | Cases proceed from arraignment and grand jury indictment through discovery, motions and plea or trial. | ~100% |