New York Legal Overview: Syracuse

The Syracuse metropolitan area in New York is defined by the Census Bureau as covering Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties. This MSA is part of the larger Syracuse–Auburn combined statistical area or CSA which additionally includes the Auburn micropolitan area (Cayuga County). The supreme and county courts in each county are the main trial courts with general jurisdiction. Madison County is served by the 6th Judicial District, while Onondaga and Oswego counties come under the 5th Judicial District. Listed below are the main cities and towns in the Syracuse metro area.

To locate an attorney and find more legal information in your area, click on any of the following links:

Top New York cities for Legal Issues:

Syracuse
Cicero
Clay
Fulton
Oneida
Oswego
Wampsville

New York/Syracuse Laws That are Trending

Current Law Topics People are Talking About in the New York and Syracuse Area:

1. The city of Syracuse has six courts. The Onondaga County Supreme Court handles the civil cases and the Onondaga County Court hears all the criminal cases. The family court has jurisdiction over divorce cases, juvenile matters and domestic violence complaints in the county. The surrogate’s court handles all the probate cases. The Syracuse City Court has limited jurisdiction over misdemeanors and traffic violations. The sixth court in the city is the Appellate Division, Fourth Department.

2. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a federal age discrimination lawsuit against four volunteer fire departments, North Syracuse Village, and the towns of Cicero and Clay. The lawsuit charges defendants with denying volunteer firemen aged 60 and 62 the opportunity to transfer credits for work done into their pension programs.

3. James W. Monticelli purchased 16 aerosol dust remover cans from the Camillus Wal-Mart three days prior to his death, and another 24 cans in the preceding month. The deceased’s father is now suing Wal-Mart for $15 million for their negligence in allowing his son to buy so many of the cans to indulge his huffing habit.   

New York/Syracuse Courthouses and Courts Links

Other Legal Information for Syracuse

Trending Legal Topics: Appeals from the city court can be filed with the county court. Supreme and county court appeals go to the appellate division. Appeals against the appellate division’s ruling may be heard by the NY Court of Appeals, which is the highest court in the state. Federal cases in the Syracuse metro area must be filed with the Syracuse Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Appeals against federal court decisions will be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit.