Westchester County · Justice / Town Court
Greenburgh DWI & Criminal Defense Lawyer — Greenburgh Town Court
One of the busiest justice courts in New York State — where I-287, the Thruway, and the Sprain Brook Parkway converge.
Greenburgh Town Court handles only the unincorporated areas of the town. Each of the six villages (Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Tarrytown) has its own court — verify which court has your matter.
Cases handled at Greenburgh Town Court
- Misdemeanor criminal offenses (full trial jurisdiction up to one year)
- Felony arraignments, bail hearings, and preliminary hearings
- Vehicle & Traffic violations — very high volume from I-287, the Thruway, Route 119, and the Sprain Brook Parkway
- DWI and drug-related arrests
- Domestic violence and orders of protection
- Landlord-Tenant (Summary Proceedings) — Thursdays
- Municipal/Town Code violations — Wednesdays
- Small Claims (Mondays at 7:00 p.m.) and civil matters
Common charges we handle at Greenburgh Town Court
Each guide sets out the statute, what the prosecutor must prove, the maximum penalties, and how this charge is handled in this courtroom.
What defendants should know about this court
- One of the busiest justice courts in New York State — five days a week with evening and weekend arraignments.
- Three judges and dedicated criminal/traffic/civil parts mean local familiarity with the calendar materially affects outcomes.
- Parking is notoriously difficult — a small lot on the westbound side of Route 119, plus shoulder parking and metered side-street spaces.
- Felonies move to Westchester County Court in White Plains after indictment.
- The Westchester County DA's Greenburgh branch also covers the six village courts within Greenburgh's borders.
- Don't confuse Greenburgh Town Court with the village courts — a Greenburgh ticket may belong in Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Hastings, Irvington, or Tarrytown.
How your case moves through Greenburgh Town Court
Greenburgh Town Court runs on a short, heavily attended calendar Sessions are held mon: traffic trials (nysp) 9:30/2:00; small claims 7:00 p.m. · tue: criminal 9:30; trials/hearings 2:00 · wed: municipal violations 9:30; traffic (town/county pd) · thu: landlord-tenant/civil/traffic 9:30; criminal 2:00 · fri: criminal 9:30; trials/hearings 2:00. Misdemeanor and traffic cases are resolved before the town or village justice; felony charges are arraigned here and then move to the county court. The county District Attorney's Office brings the criminal cases, while the town attorney or the arresting officer usually prosecutes traffic tickets.
- 01
Arraignment — the first court appearance
Arraignment is usually within 24 hours of arrest. The charges are read, the court confirms your identity and counsel, and the judge sets bail or releases you on your own recognizance. In a justice, town or village court this is where a misdemeanor case is decided in practice: the plea offered on day one is often the best one you will see. Nothing is argued or proven at arraignment — but what you say and do not say can shape everything that follows, which is why an attorney should be there before it, not after.
- 02
Bail and release conditions
New York's bail statute starts with release on recognizance or unconditional release for most misdemeanor and non-violent felony charges. Cash bail, if it is set at all, must be the least restrictive condition that reasonably assures you come back. A court can also impose supervision, travel restrictions, or no-contact terms — and those terms bind you immediately, including the ones that keep you away from your own home. Getting the conditions right at the outset protects your job, your housing and your family.
- 03
Discovery and motions
The district attorney must turn over the evidence in the government's possession — police reports, body-worn camera and dash footage, 911 recordings, laboratory results, witness statements and identification records. Where that material was withheld or is misleading, the defense moves to dismiss or to suppress. In most misdemeanor cases this is the phase that decides the outcome: a successful suppression motion ends the case long before any jury is picked.
- 04
Pre-trial conferences
In a justice, town or village court, misdemeanor cases resolve through a series of short conference dates. Each one is a chance to push the case toward dismissal or a better plea, and each one is also a date you can miss, waive or get ahead of. Your presence is usually excused once counsel appears, so the case advances without you losing another day of work — but decisions about what to accept are always yours.
- 05
Plea or trial
At trial the prosecution must prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. You do not have to prove anything and you cannot be made to testify. Because a jury trial in a justice court is usually a jury of six, and because a bench trial before the town or village justice is an option, the strategy is decided case by case. A misdemeanor trial in this courtroom is a real contest — and it is winnable when the papers and the witnesses do not line up.
- 06
Sentencing and after
A conviction can bring jail, a fine, probation, mandatory programs, and a permanent criminal record. Collateral consequences often outweigh the sentence itself — immigration status, professional and occupational licenses, security clearances, housing, and student financial aid. Before you accept anything, you should know exactly what the plea costs you later, not just what it costs you today.
If the charge is a felony, this court handles only the opening stage — arraignment, bail and the preliminary hearing. The case then goes to the grand jury, and if it is indicted it is prosecuted in county or supreme court, where different rules and much longer exposure apply.
About the Greenburgh Town Court
Greenburgh Town Court is one of the busiest justice courts in New York State — operating Monday through Friday with a full calendar of criminal, traffic, civil, and administrative matters, plus evening and weekend arraignments. Located at 188 Tarrytown Road (Route 119) in White Plains, the courthouse is about a mile east of Exit 4 on I-287. The town is the southwestern anchor of Westchester County and is home to six incorporated villages, each with its own separate court.
Six Village Courts vs. the Town Court
Greenburgh contains six villages — Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, and Tarrytown — each with its own separate court. Greenburgh Town Court handles only matters from the unincorporated areas. If your ticket was issued within one of the villages, your case belongs in the corresponding village court. Read your summons carefully or call us — we will confirm in minutes.
Why local representation matters
Yvonne Garbett is a former Rockland County Assistant District Attorney from 2002–2006, admitted in 2002 with 24 years as an attorney and private defense practice since 2006. She regularly appears in Greenburgh Town Court and knows how this courtroom actually works — the calendar rhythm, the prosecutors, the judges' tendencies, and the practical steps that move a case forward. That familiarity is, in our experience, one of the most underrated advantages a defendant can have.
Parking & directions
From the Thruway (I-87): Exit 9 (Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow), Route 119 East ~4 miles. From I-287: Exit 4, then merge onto Route 119 East ~1 mile. Limited lot on Route 119 westbound side; street parking on nearby blocks.
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