Administration

Presiding Justice
Hon. Dianne T. Renwick

Clerk of the Court
Susanna Molina Rojas

27 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 340-0400

Hours of operation:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except public holidays

 

Introduction

Created by the New York State Constitution of 1894, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department, is one of four intermediate appellate courts in the State, and holds jurisdiction over the Counties of New York and the Bronx. Appeals are taken to the Appellate Division, as a matter of right, in civil and criminal cases, from the Supreme Court, Surrogate’s Court, Family Court, and Court of Claims.

As a branch of the Supreme Court, the Appellate Division has broad powers to review questions of law and fact, and to make new findings of fact. It serves as the court of original jurisdiction in certain types of matters; other cases reach the Appellate Division after they have been reviewed by the Appellate Term, a lower appellate court. Since, with few exceptions, appeals to the Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court, are by permission only, the Appellate Division is the court of last resort in the majority of cases. Over 3,000 appeals, 6,000 motions, and 1,000 interim applications are determined each year.

In addition, the Appellate Division admits roughly 3,000 new attorneys to the Bar each year, disciplines practicing lawyers, and otherwise exercises its judicial authority in Manhattan and the Bronx.

 

Historic Sitting in the Bronx

Presiding Justice Renwick announced that the Appellate Division, First Department will have a historic session in the Bronx on December 7, 2023. For the first time, the oral arguments will be heard by a bench that will be comprised of all First Department Justices of Color elected in the Bronx. For additional information, please see the press release.

 

Civil Appeal Legal Assistance Pilot Program

The New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) has instituted a pilot program to provide free representation to eligible litigants who have filed appeals in this Court in Article 78 proceedings, family law matters, and matrimonial disputes. For additional information, please visit NYLCA’s website at NYCLA Civil Appeals Project Online Intake (legalserver.org).

 

Hyperlinks in Briefs

Commencing with all appeals perfected for the September 2021 Term, the Court will accept, on a voluntary basis, briefs with hyperlinks to cited primary authorities (constitutions, case law, statutes, rules and regulations) available on Westlaw, Lexis, or state or federal government websites. Citations to secondary and other sources should not be hyperlinked. All citations (with or without hyperlinks) shall appear in standard citation form.

 

Appellate Division, First Department Live Streaming

Click the “Live Webcast” link above to access the livestream, or visit the Appellate Division, First Department YouTube channel.

Images and video recordings of the Court’s Justices on the Court’s website or otherwise may not be used to advance private interests or in furtherance of any commercial purpose (see Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics Op. 2—158; see generally 22 NYCRR 100.2[C], 100.4[D][3]).

 

Oral Argument Archives

Watch oral argument archives, or visit the Appellate Division, First Department YouTube channel.

If you need a reasonable accommodation under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) in order to access the archive of a particular argument, please contact Margaret Sowah, Deputy Clerk of the Court and the Court’s designated ADA liaison by email at AD1ADAliaison@nycourts.gov or 212-360-4987.

 

Portable Electronic Device Policy

The Court's policy statement regarding the use of Portable Electronic Devices