State
of New York
The court system
for the state of New York has several important parts. The town of Pittsford
and Monroe County is part of the Seventh Judicial District.
- Court of Appeals - This is
the court of last resort in the state - as far as it goes legally.
- Court of Claims - The court
of claims consists of the eight judges. The court has jurisdiction to hear
and determine claims against the state or by the state against the claimant
or between conflicting claimants as the legislature may provide.
- Family Court - The family court
of the state of New York consists of at least one judge in each county outside
the city of New York and such number of additional judges for such counties
as may be provided by law. As hinted at by its name, Family Court is concerned
with the welfare of families and especially children.
- Surrogate's Court - This court
takes care of wills and the affairs of people who have died.
- Appellate Court - The Appellate
Division of the Supreme Court serves as an intermediate appellate court with
the power to review both the law and facts in civil and criminal cases. The
Appellate Division is a branch of the Supreme Court, thus justices are designated
by the governor from the array of elected Supreme Court justices. They serve
five year terms.
- Courts for Towns and Villages
and Cities - Courts for towns, villages and cities outside the city
of New York have the jurisdiction prescribed by the legislature, but not in
any respect greater than the jurisdiction of the district court. The number
of judges of each town, village and city court and the classification and
of the judges shall be prescribed by the legislature. The terms, method of
selection and method of filling vacancies for the judges of such courts shall
be prescribed by the legislature, provided, however, that the justices of
town courts shall be chosen by the electors of the town for terms of four
years from and including the first day of January next after their election.
