Message from the Judge:

Court is held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 5:00 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Parking is available on N. Main Street or in the rear of the Municipal Building.

Court Calendar:
August 13, 2008
September 3, 2008
September 17, 2008
October 1, 2008
October 15, 2008

The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the Minoa Justice Court is James R. Daley, Esq., who attends our court sessions every other month.

Office hours:
Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Telephone messages left with the Court office are retrieved and answered daily, Monday through Friday.

This Court handles various types of matters including vehicle and traffic, criminal, civil, village ordinance violations and small claims cases.

Traffic Infractions:
Most minor traffic infractions are able to be handled by mail. There are various procedural options you may choose from when you are issued a traffic ticket. The Court may not provide you with a recommendation as to how you should proceed, or as to which of these or any other options you should choose.

Your Options:

Plead Not Guilty. By pleading not guilty, you exercise your right to a public trial at which the People of the State of New York, represented by the District Attorney or his assistants, must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you have committed the offense alleged in the accusatory instrument. The Court will determine, after hearing all the evidence submitted at the trial, whether or not the People have proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and will render an appropriate verdict.

Plead Guilty as Charged. By pleading guilty, you waive your right to a trial. A plea of guilty will subject you to sentencing by the Judge presiding to any legally authorized sentence. You may withdraw, with the Court's permission, your plea of guilty at any time prior to sentencing and exercise your right to a trial.

Communicate With an Assistant District Attorney Concerning an Alternate Disposition. You may contact the Assistant District Attorney who is responsible for proving the charge or charges against you by mailing your written correspondence to A.D.A. James R. Daley, c/o Minoa Justice Court, at the address shown above. You may negotiate an agreement to plead guilty to a legally authorized alternate offense, including, a lesser offense, or a less severe offense or offenses. Any proposed agreement is subject to approval by the Court. Upon a plea of guilty to the agreed-upon offense, you will be subject to sentencing, by the Judge presiding, to any sentence legally authorized to be imposed for the offense to which you plead guilty.

The District Attorney's office is responsible for prosecuting all traffic and criminal matters in Onondaga County. The Court cannot amend or modify these matters without the written recommendation from the District Attorney's Office.

Small Claims:
This Court is able to hear cases concerning monetary claims up to $3,000 against a resident of the Village, a person who regularly works in the Village, or who owns a business within the Village. You may contact the Court Clerk if you need information concerning a Small Claims case, or you may request that an informational handbook be sent to you for review. A nominal filing fee applies ($10 to $15) if a case is commenced in Small Claims Court.

Links:
New York State Unified Court System: www.courts.state.ny.us
Department of Motor Vehicles: www.nydmv.state.ny.us
Directions to Village Court: www.mapquest.com