Clarkstown Justice Court: What You Need to Know If You've Been Charged

The Town of Clarkstown Justice Court has served the community since 1786, making it one of the oldest justice courts in New York State. Today it is also one of the busiest by criminal case volume in the entire state. Located at 20 Maple Avenue in New City — on the second floor of the same building as the Clarkstown Police Department — this court sits at the center of Rockland County's most active jurisdiction. With four sitting justices and court calendars held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., the courthouse processes an exceptionally high volume of cases each week. The court has general jurisdiction over criminal, civil, traffic, and landlord-tenant matters arising anywhere within the Town of Clarkstown's boundaries.

The court is presided over by four Town Justices. Hon. Michael Bongiorno was appointed to the bench in August 2023, bringing 30 years of prosecutorial experience — including 12 years as the elected Rockland County District Attorney and 14 years as a homicide trial attorney and deputy bureau chief in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. He is a graduate of Yale University and Washington & Lee School of Law, where he graduated with honors. Hon. Aimee Pollak was elected in November 2023 and began serving in January 2024. She is a Yale University and NYU Law School graduate (magna cum laude), a former law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and a former staff attorney at Rockland County Legal Aid Society. Hon. Leslie Kahn is also a sitting Town Justice. A fourth seat exists on the bench — contact the court directly to confirm the current fourth justice.

Clarkstown Justice Court has criminal jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses — charges punishable by up to 364 days in jail — and conducts arraignments, bail hearings, and preliminary hearings for felony charges before those cases are transferred to Rockland County Court. The court also handles the full range of Vehicle and Traffic Law violations, including speeding, DWI, and license suspensions. Additional jurisdiction covers Town Code violations, Environmental Law violations, landlord-tenant eviction proceedings (with unlimited monetary jurisdiction within the Town), and small claims cases up to $3,000. The court also administers Rockland County's Drug Court referral process and the Veterans Alternative to Incarceration (VATI) program for eligible defendants.

Expect a busy, professional courtroom. With four judges and high case volume, calendars move quickly — but unrepresented defendants often find themselves waiting significantly longer than those with counsel. For criminal matters, the Rockland County District Attorney's Office prosecutes; for traffic violations issued by the New York State Police, the Town Attorney's Office typically handles prosecution; for tickets issued by other agencies, the arresting officer may prosecute directly. Defendants charged with misdemeanors should expect multiple appearances before their case resolves — arraignment, pre-trial conferences, possible motion hearings, and ultimately plea or trial. Defendants facing felony charges will be arraigned here first, then transferred to Rockland County Court after preliminary proceedings. First-time defendants and their families should know: appearing without an attorney in this court can have lasting consequences on a criminal record. Local counsel familiar with this court's procedures and the individual tendencies of each judge makes a measurable difference.

The New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) cuts east-west through the Town of Clarkstown with a posted speed limit of 55 mph — notably lower than the standard Thruway limit of 65 mph elsewhere. Many drivers do not realize the reduced limit, resulting in stops that often feel unexpected. This stretch is actively patrolled by NYSP Troop T. The Palisades Interstate Parkway runs north-south through the town at 55 mph and is patrolled by NYSP Troop F. Together, these two corridors generate among the highest traffic enforcement volumes of any justice court in the region. If you or a loved one received a ticket or was arrested on either roadway within Clarkstown's boundaries, your case belongs in this court — and how you respond in the first days after a stop matters enormously to the outcome.

Clarkstown Justice Court is not a courthouse where any attorney with a New York license can walk in and be effective. The four judges each have distinct preferences, different approaches to bail, and varying expectations for motion practice. The prosecutors — from the DA's Office, Town Attorney's Office, and individual officers — each have their own styles of negotiation. The clerks know which procedures move cases forward and which slow them down. Yvonne Garbett's office at 3 Eberling Drive is minutes from this courthouse, and she appears here regularly — often multiple times each week. That local presence means she knows what the room looks like before your case is ever called, and she can use that knowledge entirely in your favor.

The courthouse is located at 20 Maple Avenue in New City. The Justice Court occupies the second floor of the building, which is shared with the Clarkstown Police Department. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the building. The court is a short walk from the Rockland County Courthouse complex on Main Street. From the New York State Thruway (I-87), take Exit 10N (New City) and follow Route 304 north into downtown New City; Maple Avenue is a left turn just past the main commercial district.