Guide to Queens Criminal Court
By Don Murray, Esq.
Partner, Shalley & Murray
- When to Come to Queens Criminal Court
- Directions to Queens Criminal Court
- Courthouse Parking in Queens
- Places to Eat Lunch near Queens Criminal Court
- Courtroom Rules
- What to do if there is a Warrant
- Arraignments
- Path of a Criminal Case
- Path of a Criminal Trial in New York
Introduction
The following guide contains nuts and bolts information about Criminal Court in Queens County as well as general information about the criminal justice process in Queens and how it works.
The first section, Coming to Court, will help you find the Courthouse, find a particular courtroom, find a place to eat lunch in the courthouse area, and more.
The second section, The Process in Queens, will provide a guided tour of the criminal justice process in Queens County, including an interactive map of the Queens arraignment courtroom.
Coming to Court
When to Come
The quick answer is: WHENEVER THE JUDGE TELLS YOU TO BE THERE.
You are usually expected to be in Court (not waiting on line or in the hall) at 9:30 AM.
That means that you must leave time to find parking (if you are driving), to wait on line, and to find the right Courtroom.
The line to get in the Courthouse is unpredictable. Some days you might have no wait at all before you get to walk through the metal detectors and others you might have to stand on a line that stretches around the block.
Finally, if you haven't been to the Courtroom before, plan on spending a few minutes figuring out where you need to go. You might want to ask your lawyer before the Court Date where to go.
Different judges have different attitudes about your presence at 9:30 precisely. Although it is your responsibility to be in Court at the time directed by the Judge, as a practical matter most judges understand that occasionally traffic is bad, the lines are long, and things can happen. In many cases, judges are so busy dealing with the cases of people who are already present that your lateness may not even be noticed. Most judges do not take a "roll call" at 9:30 AM.
Be aware however, that in some degree, you are playing with fire by appearing later than 9:30 AM. In theory, it could be noticed, and in theory a judge could decide to set, raise, or eliminate bail on you for failing to come to Court "on time." Judges have different attitudes about lateness and the excuses they are willing to accept. One former Supreme Court Judge in Queens was notorious for setting bail on just about anyone appearing after 9:30 AM.
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Getting There
Kew Gardens - All the Criminal Courtrooms in Queens are now located at 125-01 Queens Blvd., next to Borough Hall. Queens Criminal Court is easily accessible by subway, car, and bus.
By Subway
Go to the UNION TURNPIKE subway station. The two main lines stopping at Union Turnpike are the E and F lines.
Coming from the direction of New York City, get out at the front of the train and exit in the direction of the train, bearing to your left up the stairs to Queens Blvd. Continue walking down Queens Blvd. away from the direction of Manhattan. You will walk by Borough Hall. Keep going until you get to the next big building across a small street. In front of the building is a large sculpture with a top that spins in the wind. This is Criminal Court.
Coming from the direction of Jamaica, Queens, get out at the back of the train and exit up and out back toward the direction of Jamaica. Bear left up the stairs to Queens Blvd. Continue walking down Queens Blvd. away from the direction of Manhattan. You will walk by Borough Hall. Keep going until you get to the next big building across a small street. In front of the building is a large sculpture with a top that spins in the wind. This is Criminal Court.
By Car:
Generally, by car the Kew Gardens Courthouse can be easily reached off the Grand Central Parkway (Eastbound, Queens Blvd. exit) or off the Van Wyck Expressway (going toward Kennedy Airport take the Union Turnpike Exit, coming from direction of Kennedy Airport take Queens Blvd. exit)
By Bus-- The Q60, Q37, Q74 and Q46 buses all have stops in close proximity to the Courthouse.
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Queens Criminal Court Parking
It is probably easiest to park in the Municipal parking lot maintained between the Courthouse and Borough Hall. You will always be able to find a place to park. At the Municipal Lot you will have your choice of a Muni-Meter on the top level or parking with no preset time limit in the levels below. Again it is easier to park below and pay when you leave. The rates are not that much different than the Muni-Meter.
In the Courthouse area you will find a few other garages, like one located in the Silver Towers building across from Court, but they are generally more expensive than the Municipal Lot.
Another option is to park on the street somewhere in the area. You will spend a good deal of time looking for a spot. The Kew Gardens area is also alive with ticket officers waiting to write you a ticket. Good luck.
Lunch in the Queens Criminal Courthouse Area
The Courthouse lunch period is from 1PM to 2PM.
Note: This is an informal listing of some of the more popular places to eat within walking distance of the Courthouse. These are not paid advertisements or endorsements.
Sit Down Dining
Pasta Lovers - Pasta Lovers is an Italian restaurant located diagonally across the street from the Criminal Courthouse. It is a popular spot for Court personnel and gets quite busy during the Courthouse lunch period. You may have a wait if you get there late.
Subway - Located down Queens Blvd from the Courthouse across the street from Borough Hall.
Dunkin Donuts - Located a couple of stores down from Subway, across from Borough Hall.
La Rondine - La Rondine serves a wide variety of large slices and other dishes.
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Courtroom Rules
What to wear to Court
If you are charged with a crime and must appear in Court, dress decently. Once you are in front of a jury, dress may become more important, but the same basic principle applies: Dress decently.
You don't have to wear an Armani suit. You don't have win a fashion contest. If you are a person who goes to Church, wear what you wear when you go to Church. Show the Court that you thought about where you were going.
How to Avoid Conflict with Court Officers
As a general rule you don't want to cause conflict with the Court Officers while you are in Court waiting for your case to be called. Conflict with the Court Officers can actually lead to your arrest in extreme circumstances. In less extreme circumstances you can be ordered out of the courtroom.
The following are a list of activities that may cause conflict with Court Officers:
- Reading newspapers, books, or anything else
- Sleeping
- Slouching too much in the bench
- Talking with others (an occasional whisper is not usually a problem, but no loud talking)
- Eating, drinking, or chewing gum
- Standing
- Making noise
- Cell Phone Going Off in Court
Avoiding the above list of activities will go a long way toward avoiding conflict with the Court Officers. Avoiding conflict with the Court Officers decreases the risk that the judge will take an immediate dislike to you and therefore increases the likelihood that the judge may treat your case more favorably than otherwise.
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Missed Appearances
It is always your responsibility to come to Court when you are supposed to. If you miss your scheduled Court date you must make every effort to return yourself to Court as soon as physically possible. Call your attorney and advise him about the reason for your failure to appear and advise him as to when you are coming in to Court.
You are the only one responsible for remembering your court dates. If the judge sets, raises, or eliminates bail, you will be the one in jail. If you have any doubt about your next appearance date, contact your lawyer.
Most judges will accept reasonable excuses from those who voluntarily come back into Court soon after failing to appear. But don't count on it. The better course of action is simply to make sure you are there when you are supposed to be there.