East Hampton Justice Court
As an East Hampton attorney, one of the courts in which I practice most frequently is the East Hampton Justice Court, located on Pantigo Road, just a few blocks from my office. This courthouse is the first stop for everyone who has committed a crime in the Town of East Hampton, as well as residents of the Village of East Hampton for traffic and parking, civil, small claims, landlord-tenant, and village ordinate violations. If you’ve been stopped for a DWI or reckless driving, or if you’ve been arrested for a misdemeanor or felony, you will start the process here, generally 24 hours or less after your arrest.
The courthouse is located at 159 Pantigo Rd. East Hampton, NY 11937, off of Route 27. Depending on whether you’re coming from the east or west, you will turn onto the road immediately before or after the town hall and drive past the police substation to reach the Justice Court Building. You can get more specific directions by clicking on the map below and entering your home address:
You can get more specific directions by clicking on the map below and entering your home address:
Hours & Parking:
Free parking is available at the courthouse, which is open from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. The court is open for civil and parking infractions Monday through Friday, but arraignments for crimes occur 7 days a week.
Justices:
When you arrive, your case will be heard by either Hon. Lisa Rana or Hon. Steven Tekulsky, the two town justices. If you committed a felony, your case will be transferred to the Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, NY after your arraignment. If you committed a misdemeanor or traffic violation, your entire case will be heard here.
How To Prepare:
Even though this is a small court, you should still dress appropriately. Business casual dress (a collared, button-down shirt and dress pants for men and a nice blouse and dress slacks or a skirt for women) is appropriate, and should be neat and modest. Avoid large or gaudy accessories as well as those that would identify you as a member of any social, political or religious group or subculture. The point of such dress is not to limit your free expression, but to guard against any potential bias on the part of the judge and present you in the most neutral light possible.
If I’m representing you, wait at the courthouse for me and I will help walk you through the process and do most of the speaking for you. Only speak to members of the court when spoken to and always address the judge as “Your Honor,” instead of “Sir” or “Ma’am.”
Contacting The Court:
Although I will usually contact the court on your behalf or be available to answer any questions for you. If, for any reason, you need to contact them directly, you can do so by phone at (631) 324-4134 or by fax at (631) 324-4134.
Contact An East Hampton Attorney Before Your Court Date!
The most important thing to remember about the East Hampton Court is that you’re entitled to an attorney throughout the entire process. Unless you’re simply paying an uncontested parking ticket, I strongly recommend that you contact an attorney before your arraignment or first court date, even if you think the offense is minor. A relatively minor offense left on your record now could negatively impact you later and accepting a lapse in justice for the sake of convenience does a disservice to both you and the justice system.
So if you’ve been arrested for or accused of a crime, please don’t wait. Give me a call for a free consultation at (631) 472-3779.