Court Tours

Court Tours offer young people a special lecture on the criminal justice system and court systems of New York State. Visits may include Commissioner of Jurors, Law Library, County Clerk and civil and criminal case proceedings, depending on the interests, ages, and number in group.

Please note that these tours are given by appointment only; and due to the heavy demand, the schedule fills up quickly - plan accordingly. To schedule a court tour, In Onondaga County, please contact: George Panuthos, Associate Court Clerk (315) 671-1043

Domestic Relations Fee Dispute Arbitration Program

The Domestic Relations Fee Dispute Arbitration Program is a free, fast, informal and final dispute resolution process to resolve issues between clients and attorneys over disputed attorney fees in domestic relations cases. The attorney and the client present the fee dispute before an arbitration panel or arbitrators who listen to the parties and make an arbitration award.

For further information on this program, or to obtain forms to file a request, please contact:

Valerie James, Court Analyst
(315) 671-2121

Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) Program

What is the SCAR Program?
This program was established in 1982 under RPTL (Real Property Tax Law) 730. It is intended to provide owners of 1,2 or 3 family, owner-occupied dwellings an opportunity to challenge the assessment on their property as determined by the Board of Assessment Review.

It is designed to be an alternative to formal Tax Certiorari proceeding which can be time consuming and expensive. The program provides for review before a Small Claims Assessment Review Hearing Officer, for a filing fee of $25.00, in a timely manner and in an informal setting.

General SCAR Information
The Pay is $75 per case with a cap of $300 per day. All appointments as SCAR Hearing Officers are based upon the approval of local Administrative Judges and ultimately upon the approval of the Chief Administrative Judge of the Unified Court System. NOTE: The number of SCAR petitions is small in many localities. In others, SCAR cases are often assigned to Judicial Hearing Officers (JHO's) instead. Therefore, appointment as a SCAR Hearing Officer does not guarantee the assignment of cases. As a SCAR Hearing Officer you will be bound by a code of ethics as set forth in section 74 of the Public Officer's Law. You should become familiar with this code.

A Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) Hearing Officer training is conducted every two years by the Unified Court System's Education and Training Unit, and is coordinated through the District Administration Office. Re-certification will be held at the Onondaga Courthouse in February 2001. Dates to be announced. Applications must be completed for all new Hearing Officers and for all officers applying for re-certification. Forward Applications to:

SCAR Application
Attn: Angela Albanese
Fifth District Administrative Judge's Office
Onondaga County Office Building - Room 105
600 South State Street
Syracuse, NY 13202

NYS Unified Court System - SCAR Homepage