Cayuga County Criminal Court

Cayuga County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Cayuga County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Cayuga County.

Who can help me in Cayuga County?

For general information about your case the Cayuga County court clerk will be able to provide legal information about your specific criminal case. Legal information is not legal advice though, the court clerk will only be able to provide information about your case, like date/time of hearings what will occur at the hearing and what you may be required to do in the hearing. They cannot provide advice about what you should do or what the best legal options may be for your particular case. Only an attorney can provide legal advice and this is your best place for information about your specific criminal proceeding. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent you, this is most often a public defender.

Sentencing in Cayuga County

In Cayuga County if the defendant is found guilty (by trial or plea), the defendant will be sentenced. This sometimes occurrs immediately after being found guilty, but can also take place at a later date. In most instances, a judge will impose the sentence that is requested by the prosecution, but they also have the descretion to impose a different sentence.

Cayuga County Criminal Court

Cayuga County Criminal Court

Jury Deliberations in Cayuga County

In Cayuga County, jury deliberations will take place in a jury trial after the prosecution and defense have presented their cases and rested. At this point, the judge will provide a list of instructions to the jury about what they are allowed and not allowed to do and what verdict options are available for them to decide. The jury will be sent to a private room to discuss the evidence presented in the case and attempt to reach a unaminous decision. When a unaminous decision is reached, the jury will inform the judge that they have reached a verdict and will return to the courtroom for the verdict to be read allowed. In the event that the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict, the jury results in a deadlock and a mistrial is declared.

Prosecutor in Cayuga County

In Cayuga County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Cayuga County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent New York. For the most part, the prosecutor in Cayuga County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.

Can I appeal a guilty verdict?

If found guilty, a defendant may decide to appeal his case to an appelate court. The appellate court will not retry the case, they will examine the proceedings in the lower court to make sure they were done in a legal manner. The appellate court can either uphold the original conviction, or determine that due to errors made in the original trial, that there must be a retrial, resentencing or a complete dismissal of the charges.

Cayuga County Arraignments

An arraignment is a court hearing. In Cayuga County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Cayuga County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In Cayuga County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.

Burden of Proof Requirement

In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Right to Counsel

The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the U.s. Constitution give defendants in criminal cases the right to counsel/attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to represent you. Like other rights a defendant has, this one can be waived as well and alternatively you can choose to represent yourself.

Cayuga County Criminal Court hearings

Criminal hearings in Cayuga County will take place at the Cayuga County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the Cayuga County Criminal Court Locations.

The Right to Trial by Jury

The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by a jury. This is applicable for when the crime can carry a sentence of 6 months in jail OR a $500 fine, these are known as “Serious Crimes”. The defendant can also waive their right to a speedy and public trial.

What is a Plea Agreement?

A plea agreement is a deal made between the prosecution and the defendant in a case, where the defendant agrees to plea guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor. In practice, more than 90% of criminal cases end with a plea agreement.

Mandatory Appearances in Cayuga County Criminal Court

At a mandatory or required court appearance in Cayuga County, the defendant must appear before the court. In the event of a “Failure to Appear” the judge may issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant. Note: not all criminal hearings are mandatory, in a non-mandatory hearing an attorney may appear on your behalf without you being in court.

Cayuga County Criminal Court Locations

  • Cayuga County Surrogate’s Court

    Address: 152 Genesee Street, Auburn NY 13021
    Phone: 315-237-6210 Fax: 315-237-6211

  • Cayuga County Court

    Address: 152 Genesee Street, Auburn NY 13021
    Phone: 315-237-6450 Fax: 315-237-6451

  • Auburn City Court

    Address: 157 Genesee Street, Auburn NY 13021
    Phone: 315-237-6420 Fax: 315-237-6421

  • Aurelius Town Court

    Address: 1241 West Genesee Street Road, Auburn NY 13021
    Phone: 315-255-0065 Fax: 315-255-0808

  • Brutus Town Court

    Address: 9021 North Seneca Street, PO Box 720, Weedsport NY 13166
    Phone: 315-834-6618 Fax: 315-834-7423

  • Cato Town Court

    Address: 11320 Shortcut Road, Cato NY 13033
    Phone: 315-626-6904

  • Conquest Town Court

    Address: 1289 Fuller Road, Port Byron NY 13140
    Phone: 315-776-6063 Fax: 315-776-5703

  • Fleming Town Court

    Address: 2433 Dublin Road, Auburn NY 13021
    Phone: 315-252-1204 Fax: 315-252-1935

  • Genoa Town Court

    Address: 1000 Bartnick Road, Genoa NY 13071
    Phone: 315-364-6722

  • Ira Town Court

    Address: 2487 West Main Street, Cato NY 13033
    Phone: 315-626-3500 Ext. 7

  • Ledyard Town Court

    Address: 1099 Poplar Ridge Road, Aurora NY 13026
    Phone: 315-364-5708

  • Locke Town Court

    Address: 900 Main Street, Locke NY 13092
    Phone: 315-497-2932

  • Mentz Town Court

    Address: 14 Sponable Drive, Port Byron NY 13140
    Phone: 315-776-9920 Fax: 315-776-9922

  • Meridian Village Court

    Address: 11320 Short Cut Road, Cato NY 13033
    Phone: 315-626-6230 Fax: 315-626-3389

  • Montezuma Town Court

    Address: 8102 Dock Street, Montezuma NY 13117
    Phone: 315-776-9163 Fax: 315-776-9908

  • Moravia Town Court

    Address: 139 Main Street, PO Box 1146, Moravia NY 13118
    Phone: 315-497-0968

  • Moravia Village Court

    Address: 48 West Cayuga Street, PO Box 858, Moravia NY 13118
    Phone: 315-497-9295 Fax: 315-497-9295

  • Niles Town Court

    Address: 5921 New Hope Road, Moravia NY 13118
    Phone: 315-497-0066

  • Owasco Town Court

    Address: 2 Bristol Avenue, Auburn NY 13021
    Phone: 315-253-9021 Ext. 4 Fax: 315-255-3410

  • Port Byron Village Court

    Address: 52 Utica Street, PO Box 398, Port Byron NY 13140
    Phone: 315-776-9692

  • Scipio Town Court

    Address: 3705 State Route 34, PO Box 61, Scipio Center NY 13147
    Phone: 315-364-5325

  • Sempronius Town Court

    Address: 2481 State Route 41A, Moravia NY 13118
    Phone: 315-496-2010

  • Sennett Town Court

    Address: 6931 Cherry Street Road, Auburn NY 13021
    Phone: 315-253-3712

  • Springport Town Court

    Address: 859 State Route 326, Cayuga NY 13034
    Phone: 315-889-5020 Fax: 315-889-5109

  • Sterling Town Court

    Address: 1290 State Route 104A, Sterling NY 13156
    Phone: 315-947-6602

  • Summerhill Town Court

    Address: 13606 State Route 90, Locke NY 13092
    Phone: 315-497-3496 Fax: 315-497-3497

  • Throop Town Court

    Address: 7471 Robinson Road, Auburn NY 13021
    Phone: 315-253-0089 Fax: 315-252-4222

  • Venice Town Court

    Address: 2479 State Route 34, Venice Center NY 13147
    Phone: 315-364-6875

  • Victory Town Court

    Address: 1323 Town Barn Road, Red Creek NY 13143
    Phone: 315-626-6462 Fax: 315-626-6747

  • Weedsport Village Court

    Address: 8892 South Street, PO Box 190, Weedsport NY 13166
    Phone: 315-834-8634 Fax: 315-834-9110

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