An Introduction to the East Hampton Town Justice Court
East Hampton Town Justice Court is situated on St. Andrews Road in East Hampton, New York, near the entrance to the Town Hall complex, just off of Route 114. The court has three justices: Hon. Lisa R. R. A. R. Ramsay, Hon. Steven Tekulsky, and Hon. Rona W. Solomon.
The East Hampton Town Justice Court hears traffic violations, small claims, and civil matters in addition to criminal matters. It does not hear foreclosure cases or claims over $15,000. Local civil matters, violations, and misdemeanors are heard by one of the different justices on rotation as assigned by the court clerk.
One of the persistent issues in East Hampton Town Justice Court is the length of time it takes for cases to be resolved. The exhaustively popular summer season draws long lines of people to the courthouse, and this has had the effect of creating a backlog in cases heard by the court. In addition, the specific calendars create long waits.
A bedrock concern in East End criminal courts, including East Hampton Town Justice Court, is the handling of cases involving violations of alcohol and drinking laws. Summer tourism creates increased pressure in the areas of DWI and other offenses . Thus, the East Hampton Town Justice Court tends to hear a great deal of crimes and offenses involving alcohol and minors in the summer months.
There is no original jurisdiction in East Hampton Town Justice Court; all cases come to the court already assigned from the District Court. In the case of City of New York v. East Hampton Town Justice Court, et al. the Appellate Division Second Department ruled that East Hampton Town Justice Court lacked jurisdiction to dismiss a parking violation. While the local court dismissed the parking ticket, the Appellate Court held that dismissal was improper because the parking violations bureau had original jurisdiction.
In addition, the East Hampton Town Justice Court is home to a veterans treatment court. Judge Ramsay presides over the court which is compulsory for first time offenders with military service. It is a collaborative effort of the East Hampton Town Justice Court, the Suffolk County Veterans Court, as well as government and local agencies.
While the East Hampton Town Justice Court is legally independent from the rest of the Town itself, it is nevertheless integrated into the town government.
What Types of Cases Does the Court Hear?
The East Hampton Town Justice Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, hearing a variety of cases, including traffic violations, small claims, criminal misdemeanors, landlord-tenant cases and ADC (administrative code) offenses. The following is a brief summary of the jurisdiction of the court.
TRAFFIC OFFENSES – The primary function of this court is to adjudicate the various traffic violations (including VTL, Environmental, and ECTP) that are committed daily. Specific traffic offenses include DWI, dangerous instrument violations, speeding, use of a cell phone, driving while impaired by drugs, leaving the scene of an accident, driving an unregistered vehicle, and leaving a child under 16 unattended in a vehicle. In these cases, all of the procedural laws and rules that apply to DWI cases heard in county court apply here, and the same degree of preparation and knowledge is required. Understandably, the court’s DWI caseload comprises the bulk of its traffic matters.
SMALL CLAIMS – The court may also adjudicate various civil "small claims" that arise in the township. These may include disputes regarding personal property and debt collection. It is not uncommon for defendants to appear pro se (uncounseled) in small claims matters. In these cases (and in all cases, for that matter) parties are expected to fairly and competently be able to present their side of the case to the court.
CRIMINAL MISDEMEANORS – Those cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of this court, such as felonies, must be transmitted to the Suffolk County District Court in Riverhead for adjudication. Certain non-traffic criminal offenses may be filed as misdemeanors in East Hampton Town Justice Court. These offenses include aggressive assault-related offenses, drug-related violations, and some property crimes. In these misdemeanor cases, the court has the power to assign such offenders to programs such as restorative justice, adjournments in contemplation of dismissal (ACD), conditional discharges, and like pre-trial diversionary programs, with the expectation that the case will be dismissed if the offender stays out of trouble for a period of time. That said, many felony criminal cases have a strong misdemeanor component. The court often elects to keep and adjudicate both the felony and misdemeanor charges within the capacity of this court.
LANDLORD-TENANT – Another important category of case heard in this court is landlord-tenant disputes. These cases often center around the issue of whether a tenant has violated the lease agreement (or the law) so as to warrant an eviction, or whether the landlord has violated the arrangement so as to damage the tenants’ credit. Other issues include whether the tenants’ failure to pay another party relieves the landlord of the duty to respect the covenant of quiet enjoyment under the lease.
ADC (ADMINISTRATIVE CODE) – One of the more interesting non-civil matters heard in this court is an ADC case. These instances involve the alleged violation of a Town Code statute, which often culminates in a court appearance rather than the issuance of a monetary fine or an administrative sanction.
How the East Hampton Town Justice Court Functions
The East Hampton Town Justice Court is a busy place, with a steady flow of visitors and a full docket of cases to be resolved. As in any court, there are a number of procedures and processes that must be followed. The court is in session for trials and hearings on Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. These sessions will typically involve many cases – all at once. When you attend, you will be greeted by a clerk who will instruct you on checking in for your scheduled appearance. Her desk is located directly in front of you – as you enter the historical court house, she will be on your left – around the corner from the entrance. Cases are called in the order in which they are scheduled. However, the order is not always maintained. If you are early and you check in, the court staff will often alert the local police if someone needs to speak or assistance is required. When your case is called, you will stand before the judges, assessors, and the court officer. You should bring along a copy of all documents in your possession to provide to the court. When a case is on a calendar for the first time, the court will often give parties the opportunity to appear and ask for an adjournment, to allow for the parties to confer with one another about the issues. This does not always happen at a court appearance, whether the case is new or ongoing — the court may require the parties to appear. But, when the opportunity arises, parties are again advised to bring all documents to fully advise the court. While in session, attorneys and pro se litigants are required and expected to attend court in business attire. Shorts, tank tops, slippers, and beach attire are not generally accepted. Those appearing in this more commercialized fashion are sometimes turned away. In addition, everyone appearing in court is advised to remain respectful, avoid speaking out of turn, and to pause when spoken to. This is not a party and you are advised to behave accordingly.
Attending Court: How to Prepare
How to Prepare for a Court Appearance in the East Hampton Town Justice Court
When facing a court proceeding in the East Hampton Town Justice Court (or any local Justice Court), it is crucial to be as prepared as possible to avoid unnecessary fines, fees and penalties. Some general guidelines on how to prepare for a court appearance are set forth below. You may be eligible to have an attorney represent you in your case. You do not need to hire a private attorney to be represented by the Office of the Town Attorney. While the Office of the Town Attorney will generally only represent individuals on criminal matters. If your case is of a civil nature, the Office of the Town Attorney will not be able to represent you. The East Hampton Town Justice Court is generally very accommodating to all those that appear for court. It is always recommended to make an appearance, however, if you can not make it to court for whatever reason, you must be sure to have a family member, friend or attorney appear on your behalf. Do not assume that your case will be rescheduled simply because you are unable to appear. In any case , it is important to have relevant documentation at all times that will show the Judge the merits and/or relevance of your case. When faced with a traffic ticket, this provides you with an opportunity to review your history as well as the events surrounding your recent citation. Much like the case with criminal matters, there will also likely be records from both the police and the alleged victim, as well as any witnesses that might be presented at the trial, which would show further information the Judge and jury might need to decide the case in your favor. You have certain rights that must be afforded to you by all courts, including the East Hampton Town Justice Court. The right to vote, to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, to a fair trial, to be represented by an attorney, to make a statement and so forth. These are all rights that you should learn about before entering the courtroom. If at any time you feel that you are being treated unfairly, you should stop and express your concerns to the Judge.
Obtaining Court Records
A major center for traffic violations in the Town of East Hampton, the East Hampton Town Justice Court certainly enforces the ordinances of the Town of East Hampton. With jurisdiction over criminal misdemeanors, civil and small claims matters as well as traffic violations, the busy court has a full calendar every day.
Unfortunately the consequences of criminal and civil matters pending before the court can be life altering. Many defendants face incarceration or possibly deportation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. In most cases, the defendant has the right to an attorney of his or her choice.
The East Hampton Town Justice Court is located in the East Hampton Town Hall, 159 Pantigo Road, East Hampton, New York. The court meets on Mondays at 6:00 P.M. and Thursdays at 5:30 P.M. The Town Justice retains the power to schedule extra sessions, if he decides it is warranted.
Pursuant to CPLR 8006 in the Appellate Division of the Second Department, the public may apply for access to court records. The application may be made orally or in writing. The Appellate Division will make the records available upon request.
The request will not be honored if it involves an unwarranted invasion of an individual’s right to privacy, if it is embarrassing, broad, burdensome or oppressive or would defeat or impair a substantial interest of justice, or if the interest in protection of the public from disclosure of particular kinds of factual information is greater than the public interest in disclosure of the record. In that case, the Appellate Division may exclude or redact the information at issue.
Additionally, the Appellate Division may reduce the costs. A fee of twenty-five cents ($0.25) per page will be charged and must be paid at the time of the request. The court may accept payment in the following forms: money order, certified check, personal or company check under certain circumstances.
In summary, unless access to a record is prohibited by law, the public has the right to obtain the requested records. It must be noted, however, that the decision whether or not to grant access is within the discretion of the Appellate Division and may be reduced or redacted accordingly.
East Hampton Town Justice Court FAQs
Below is a list of some frequently asked questions about the East Hampton Town Justice Court:
What are the court hours for the East Hampton Town Justice Court?
The court is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court closes for holidays and adverse weather conditions.
Is the East Hampton Town Justice Court an eCourts courthouse?
Yes, the Town Justice Court is an eCourts courthouse and participates in Enhanced Scanning, which allows filed papers (originals) to be scanned with a court-issued scanner within 24 hours of being filed. Self-represented parties should check on the status of their documents by using the NYSCEF WebSurfer or going to https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/Home.
Do I need a lawyer to appear in the East Hampton Town Justice Court?
Courtroom appearances are not always required, depending on the case. However, East Hampton Town does have a Court Attorney who will be present in the courtroom on assigned days to represent the Town , as needed. If you do not have an attorney and wish to speak at court, you may be considered a self-represented party (also referred to as pro se or pro per). If you are a self-represented party, once your case is called, be prepared to identify yourself, give a brief summary of what your case is about and explain how you would like the case resolved.
Are there any virtual options to attend the East Hampton Town Justice Court from another location?
There are no virtual options available to attend the East Hampton Town Justice Court from another location. All court appearances are required to be made in-person unless otherwise granted by the court. This includes municipal code violations; you must appear in-person to answer a summons.
Where can I find the East Hampton Town Justice Court online?
The East Hampton Town Justice Court is online at: www.eastamptonny.gov/168/justice-court
How do I contact the East Hampton Town Justice Court?
You can contact the East Hampton Town Justice Court at (631) 324-4969.
