1. YOUR RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY:

Any person appearing in Family Court has the right to be represented by an attorney. If you can afford to hire or retain an attorney, you may hire or retain the attorney of your choice to represent you. These arrangements must be made prior to the scheduled court appearance.

If you do not believe that you can afford an attorney, you may be eligible to be represented by an attorney without charge. If you believe that to be the case, you should immediately contact:

Shawn Fournier
Assigned Counsel Coordinator
355 West Main Street
Malone, New York 12953
(518) 481-1423

You will be required to fill out an application for public defender services. Mr. Fournier will advise you if you are eligible. If you are eligible, you will be represented unless there is a conflict of interest. In that case, you will be referred to the conflict defender, or, if that is not possible, you will be appointed a member of the private bar to represent you.

However, it is your responsibility to contact Mr. Fournier, file your application, and confer with whatever attorney represents you prior to the scheduled court appearance. Adjournments of scheduled proceedings are not regularly granted for the purpose of obtaining legal representation.

2. INCARCERATED PARTIES:

If you are incarcerated in a local, state or federal correctional facility, it is your responsibility to arrange for your appearance in court by submitting a proposed "Order to Produce" to the court. The proposed order should be submitted quickly in order to allow the court time to consider your request and to arrange for your production by the correctional facility. The proposed order by be prepared by you or your attorney. The Court will not prepare the order.

3. ADJOURNMENTS:

It is not the ordinary policy of the court to grant adjournments of scheduled Family Court proceedings. You must make every possible effort to be present to insure that your rights are adequately protected. Your failure to appear, without acceptable explanation in advance, could result in the entry of an order that would adversely affect your rights or result in a warrant being issued for your arrest.

Nevertheless, the court recognizes that there may be circumstances that will require an adjournment. Please use the following procedure. If you are represented by an attorney, please contact your attorney first and do so immediately. They will advise you as to how you should proceed. If you are not represented by an attorney, please contact the Family Court, in writing, as to your request for an adjournment. Please be sure to include your mailing address and telephone number so that we may contact you. If time precludes a written request, please contact the Family Court by telephone. The local telephone number is 481-1742. If you are calling from outside the local calling area, you may call 1-800-397-8686, extension 742.

4. SMOKING:

New York State law prohibits smoking in public places. All public areas of the Franklin County Courthouse have been designated as "no smoking" areas. Please refrain from smoking in the lobbies, halls, elevators, waiting rooms, and conference rooms and bathrooms of the courthouse.

5. CHILDREN:

The court will not allow children in the courtroom unless they are respondents or witnesses. Under no circumstances should children otherwise be brought into the courtroom without prior arrangements being made. The court does not provide baby sitting services for children while their parents are in the courtroom. Children should be left at home, properly supervised, or you should bring some appropriate individual with you to watch your children while you are in the courtroom.

6. COURTROOM BEHAVIOR:

It is your attorney's responsibility to instruct you on proper behavior when you are in the courtroom. However, you should realize that it is improper for men to wear a hat in the courtroom and no one should chew gum.

7. COURTHOUSE SECURITY:

You should be aware that a metal detector is in operation at the only entrance to the Franklin County court system. Anyone entering the building will be required to pass through the detector. Additionally, any packages or parcels you attempt to bring will be subject to a search.