Ithaca City Court

What's New in Ithaca City Court

Court Schedule and Prosecutor Assignment of Cases


Small Claims	Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. and 3rd Tuesday evening of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Summary Proceedings (Evictions)	Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.
Criminal Court	Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. (District Attorney and City Attorney present in Court) and scheduled Fridays at 9:30 a.m. (District Attorney only present in Court) See below this table for assignment of cases
Traffic Court	Wednesdays at 12:00 noon (District Attorney present in Court)
Drug Court	Tuesdays at 1:15 p.m. (Drug screens performed at 12:30 p.m.)

Upon agreement between the District Attorney of Tompkins County and the City Attorney of the City of Ithaca, cases are assigned for prosecution in the Ithaca City Court as follows:

Cases Assigned to the District Attorney:
>> All felonies
>> All misdemeanors (including 'local' law misdemeanors)
>> All 'state' law violations (Transportation Law, Tax Law, En Con Law)
>> Vehicle and Traffic Law infractions
>> 'Local' law violations which are paired with at least one of the above types of cases (with the exception of ABC violations which are paired only with 'local' law violations - see "Cases Assigned to the City Attorney")

Cases Assigned to the City Attorney:
>> Ithaca City Code 'local' law violations
>> Building Code 'local' law violations (including garbage, unshoveled sidewalk, unmowed grass violations)
>> SPCA violations (including unlicensed dogs, unleashed dogs)
>> 'local law' violations which are paired only with an ABC violation

Civil Court

How to Appeal a Civil Court Decision
How to Collect a Money Judgement
Civil Actions
How to Subpoena ...
» A Witness » Documents or Records
Summary Proceedings (Evictions)
» Non-Payment Proceedings (Eviction for Non-Payment of rent only)
» Holdover Proceedings (Eviction for any other grounds other than Non-Payment of rent including Proceedings to Evict for Violations of the Lease or Law)

Small Claims/Commercial Claims
» Small Claims - Who can file? What is the monetary limit and geographic jurisdiction?
» Commercial Claims / Consumer Transaction cases - Who can file? What is the monetary limit and geographic jurisdiction?
» Counterclaims
» How to File in the City Court
» Small Claims Court Schedule
» Instructional Guide to Small Claims
» Instructional Guide to Commercial Claims
» Information for Defendants in a Small Claim Action
» Information for Defendants in a Commercial Claim Action
» Withdrawing a Small Claim/Commercial Claim
» Mediation

» Small Claims E-Z Application and Forms - (Use in Netscape Only) This option will assist you in the preparation of an application and other required forms (if any) for small claims, commercial claims, consumer transactions and counterclaims.
     ¤Application
     ¤Certification Form for Filing Limits
     ¤Certificate of Authority
     ¤Demand Letter Certification

» Small Claims Forms (Download in Adobe Acrobat


		Application (for small claims / commercial claims / counterclaim)
		Certification for Filing Limits (required form in Commercial Claim and Consumer Transaction cases)
		Certificate of Authority (required form in Commercial Claim and Consumer Transaction cases)
		Demand Letter Certification and Sample Demand Letter (required form in Consumer Transaction cases)
		Civil Subpoena Application and Subpoena
		Affidavit of Service
		Withdrawal Form

Criminal Court

Appealing the Decision in Criminal Court
Record Searches and Certificates of Disposition


» Criminal Record Search	» Certificate of Disposition

DMV Information on DWI's including associated penalties
NYS DMV Brochure "Suppose Your License Were Taken Away"
Payment of Fine or Surcharge


» Payment Due Date	» Credit Card Payments
» Acceptable Forms of Payment	» Partial Payment
» Where to Pay	» Extension to Pay
» Applying Bail Monies to a Fine	» Consequences of Failing to Pay

Bail Issues


» Posting Bail	» Return of Bail Monies

» Applying Bail Monies to a Fine if Bail posted by ...
¤ defendant ¤ someone other than defendant
Criminal Court Proceedings

Traffic Court

How to Resolve a Traffic Ticket
How to Pay a Traffic Ticket
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
NYS DMV Frequently Asked Questions including:
          Traffic Tickets
          Cell Phone Law
          If you have an accident
NYS DMV License Issues including:
          Point System
          Point / Insurance Reduction
          Conviction Stub
NYS DMV Brochure:
          "Suppose Your License Were Taken Away"
Appealing the Decision of the Court
Check on the Status of pending Traffic Infraction(s) in the Ithaca City Court. This system is only for traffic infractions which are returnable in the Ithaca City Court.   If you have been charged with at least one misdemeanor (for example - Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, Suspended Registration, Inadequate brakes, etc), you can not use this search system. The system will only allow you to search either by name and date of birth OR by Ticket Number which appears on your ticket. Click here to start the search. This system currently is not operational