New York's Court Naming Is Unusual
New York names its courts in a way that confuses newcomers. The Supreme Court is not the top court. It is the statewide trial court of general original jurisdiction. In Dutchess County it sits at 10 Market Street in Poughkeepsie and mainly handles civil matters, divorce and matrimonial cases, foreclosure, and Article 78 proceedings. The highest court in New York is the Court of Appeals, and the intermediate appeals court is the Appellate Division, with Dutchess in the Second Department.
Dutchess Supreme and County Court
10 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
845-431-1720
Fax 845-431-1743
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Judges and Court Staff
The Dutchess courthouse houses Supreme, County, and Surrogate's Court operations together. The NY Courts page lists Supreme Court Justices Christi J. Acker, Thomas R. Davis, Maria G. Rosa, and Desmond C. B. Lyons. County Court Judge Jessica Segal handles felony matters. Surrogate Michael G. Hayes, AJSC, presides over estates. Chief Clerk Michael Thompson and Deputy Chief Clerk Kimberly Belfiore run court operations. The courthouse is ADA accessible, with accommodations arranged through the NY Courts ADA liaisons.
The building dates to 1902. Court history runs deep here. Civil government in Dutchess County began in 1713, a courthouse stood by about 1722, and Poughkeepsie hosted the 1788 state convention that ratified the U.S. Constitution. For the full case-search side of the Supreme Court, see Dutchess County court records.
The Dutchess County Court Hierarchy
Several courts operate in Dutchess County, each with its own role. The Supreme Court is the main civil trial court. County Court handles felonies and some civil and appellate matters. Surrogate's Court handles estates. Family Court handles custody, support, and juvenile matters. City and justice courts handle local civil, criminal, and traffic cases. The comparison below sorts out which court does what.
| Supreme Court | County Court | City and Town Courts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Role | Civil trials and divorce. | Felony criminal cases. | Misdemeanors, traffic, small claims. |
| Location | 10 Market Street. | 10 Market Street. | Beacon, Poughkeepsie, and town halls. |
| Case Types | Foreclosure, Article 78, matrimonial. | Indictments, pleas, sentencing. | Violations, local civil up to $15,000. |
| Appeals Go To | Appellate Division, Second Department. | Appellate Division or County Court. | County Court or Appellate Term. |
How a Case Moves Through the System
A case follows a path from the lowest court up to the appeals courts. A criminal case may start with arraignment in a city or justice court, move to County Court for a felony, and then go to the Appellate Division on appeal. A civil case starts in Supreme Court and can climb the same appellate ladder.
- Local justice or city court: arraignment, traffic, small claims, and misdemeanors.
- County Court: felony indictments, pleas, and sentencing.
- Supreme Court: civil trials, divorce, and major civil matters.
- Appellate Division, Second Department: intermediate appeals.
- Court of Appeals: New York's highest court, by permission.
Dutchess County Court Directory
Beyond the main courthouse, Dutchess County has two city courts and many town and village justice courts. These handle most local traffic, small claims, and lower-level criminal matters. The table below lists the main courts with addresses and phone numbers.
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Dutchess Supreme and County Court | 10 Market Street, Poughkeepsie | 845-431-1720 |
| Dutchess Family Court | 50 Market Street, Poughkeepsie | 845-431-1850 |
| Beacon City Court | One Municipal Plaza, Beacon | 845-431-1900 |
| Poughkeepsie City Court | 62 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie | 845-483-8200 |
| East Fishkill Town Court | 330 Route 376, Hopewell Junction | 845-221-9191 |
| Fishkill Town Court | 807 Route 52, Fishkill | 845-831-7860 |
| Hyde Park Town Court | 1 Cardinal Road, Hyde Park | 845-229-1620 |
| Wappinger Town Court | 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls | 845-297-7739 |
| Red Hook Town Court | 7340 South Broadway, Red Hook | 845-758-4600 |
| Rhinebeck Town Court | 80 East Market Street, Rhinebeck | 845-876-3858 |
Other town and village courts serve Amenia, Beekman, Clinton, Dover, LaGrange, Milan, Millbrook, North East, Pawling, Pine Plains, Pleasant Valley, Stanford, Tivoli, Union Vale, and Wappingers Falls. Use the official Ninth Judicial District court list for each one.
City and Justice Courts
City courts arraign felonies, handle misdemeanors and lesser offenses, hear civil lawsuits up to $15,000, take small claims up to $5,000, and cover housing and landlord-tenant matters where they apply. Beacon City Court and Poughkeepsie City Court serve the county's two cities. Town and village justice courts handle traffic tickets, code violations, arraignments, small claims, and local civil and landlord-tenant matters within their statutory limits.
These local courts handle the bulk of everyday cases. A traffic ticket or a small claim usually stays in the court for the town or city where it arose, not the county courthouse. For traffic matters specifically, see Dutchess County traffic court records.
Federal Courts Serving Dutchess County
Federal cases from Dutchess County go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. That covers federal criminal prosecutions, federal-question civil cases, and prisoner civil rights matters. Bankruptcy goes to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Appeals from the district court go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York handles federal matters arising in Dutchess County. Federal dockets are accessed through PACER.
Specialty and Problem-Solving Programs
The Ninth Judicial District operates problem-solving courts, and Dutchess County has built a network of alternatives to incarceration. County materials describe Alternatives to Incarceration programs that divert people from jail, a Stabilization Center opened in 2017 to help people in crisis, a Mobile Crisis Intervention Team, and Crisis Intervention Training for officers. The jail runs RESTART, a cognitive therapy program for higher-risk individuals with community aftercare.
These programs aim to reduce repeat custody and to handle mental health and substance use outside a standard sentence. A defense attorney or the Public Defender can explain whether a case qualifies for a treatment or diversion track. Eligibility depends on the charge and the person's history.
Visiting the Poughkeepsie Courthouse
The courthouse sits on a compact downtown legal campus near Market and Main Streets. The County Office Building is at 22 Market Street, Family Court at 50 Market Street, and City Court at 62 Civic Center Plaza, all within a short walk. Parking is in the municipal lot, with handicapped parking available. Transit options include the Poughkeepsie City Bus, the Dutchess County Loop Bus, Metro-North Railroad, and Amtrak.
Visitors should allow time for downtown traffic, parking, and security screening. Confirm current municipal lot rates before arrival. Request ADA accommodations through the NY Courts ADA liaisons before the appearance date when possible.