Queens County Supreme Court: A complex operation
that unfolds in Kew Gardens, Jamaica and LIC
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | APRIL 8-14, 2022
9
BY BILL PARRY
The borough’s criminal justice
system is centered on 30
Queens Supreme Court justices
who render their decisions in
two divisions utilizing three
courthouses in Kew Gardens,
Jamaica and Long Island City
which handle criminal cases.
According to the New York
State Unified Court System, the
Criminal Term of the Queens
Supreme Court handles felony
matters, offenses that are punishable
by a term of imprisonment
that exceeds one year, and
operates at the Kew Gardens
Criminal Courthouse located
at 125-01 Queens Blvd. adjacent
to the office of the Queens district
attorney alongside Queens
Borough Hall in a bustling campus
known as the County Civic
Center.
It is here that prosecutors
from the DA’s office present their
cases before grand juries for indictments.
Jury trials and nonjury
trials, also called bench trials,
are then held before Queens
Supreme Court justices.
The criminal court also has
authority over all misdemeanors,
offenses punishable by
a term of imprisonment that
exceeds 15 days but does not
exceed one year, and minor offenses
committed within New
York City. It also handles preliminary
proceedings in felony
matters, after which the case
is transferred to the Criminal
Term of the Supreme Court.
Only Kew Gardens and the Long
Island City courthouse at 25-
10 Court Sq. handle criminal
cases.
The Civil Term operates at
the Queens Supreme Courthouse
located at 88-11 Sutphin
Blvd. which houses the Supreme
Court, Surrogate Court and
County Clerk. Supreme Court
justices oversee large felony and
civil cases within their districts,
including divorce, separation,
annulment proceedings and civil
matters exceeding $25,000.
The Sutphin Boulevard
courthouse is also home to the
Housing Court which handles
residential landlord and tenant
disputes; the Small Claims
Court which hears matters involving
monetary damages up
to $5,000; Family Court which
determines most legal matters
involving children and families;
and the Surrogate’s Court
which handles matters relating
to wills, estates and property of
deceased persons.
The Surrogate’s Court also
shares authority with the Family
Court to hear adoption proceedings.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.
Queens Supreme Courthouse located at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd.
Photo courtesy of NYC.gov
They all add up to
Zero Carbon
At National Grid we are committed to achieving a net zero
€
energy system for all. Our vision begins with:
More Solar Energy National Grid is a leader in community solar,
working with the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority to develop the Expanded Solar-For-All program, so 175,000
Ž€
‘’ “
RWE Renewables, which will generate enough electricity to power
Low and Zero Carbon Fuels Much like we are decarbonizing the
At National Grid, we are determined to deliver on our net zero and clean energy promise,
› œ œ
““
ž
€
Ÿ ¡
/QNS.COM
/NYC.gov
link
