Ramapo Justice Court Criminal Defense: What Defendants Need to Know

The Town of Ramapo Justice Court serves the largest and most populous town in Rockland County — over 126,000 residents spread across more than 61 square miles, with 12 incorporated villages each maintaining their own separate courts. This Town Court handles matters arising in the unincorporated areas of the town, including communities like Monsey, Hillcrest, West Ramapo, and portions of Spring Valley. The courthouse is located at 237 Route 59 in Suffern, within the Town Hall complex. The court has three sitting Town Justices who rotate on a published schedule. Payment of fines and tickets is accepted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the court window.

The court currently has three Town Justices. Hon. Rhoda F. Schoenberger is a long-serving Town Justice with deep familiarity with the Ramapo court. Hon. Alejandra Silva was appointed in 2024, becoming the first Latina judge ever appointed to the Ramapo Town Court — a significant milestone reflecting the community this court serves. Hon. Thomas F. Sullivan's term runs through December 31, 2026. The three justices rotate court sessions on a schedule published at ramapo.org. Always check the court website or confirm with the clerk to know which judge will be presiding on your court date.

Ramapo Justice Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal offenses and conducts arraignments, bail hearings, and preliminary hearings for felony matters before those cases move to Rockland County Court. The court handles an extremely high volume of Vehicle and Traffic violations, including DWI, DWAI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO), and speeding. It also handles Small Claims up to $3,000, landlord-tenant proceedings, orders of protection in domestic violence matters, and civil cases up to $3,000. Notably, Ramapo Town Justices are on-call 24 hours a day and can conduct emergency arraignments, set bail, and issue orders of protection at any hour — day or night.

The Town of Ramapo is bisected by some of the most heavily enforced highways in the region — I-87, I-287, Route 59, and the Palisades Interstate Parkway all pass through town. DWI and drug arrests lead the criminal calendar, followed by a steady volume of speeding, AUO, and license-related charges. The DA's Office prosecutes all criminal matters in this court. Individual police officers prosecute their own traffic tickets. Calendars in Ramapo Town Court are consistently crowded; defendants who appear without counsel are frequently at a disadvantage — both in terms of how quickly their case moves and in the quality of any plea offer they receive. An experienced local attorney knows the rotation schedule, which prosecutors handle which matters, and how to navigate a case efficiently from first appearance to resolution.

This is one of the most common sources of confusion in Ramapo. The Town of Ramapo contains 12 incorporated villages — including Suffern, Airmont, Chestnut Ridge, Montebello, New Square, Hillburn, Sloatsburg, Wesley Hills, Pomona, Spring Valley, Kaser, and Schemerhown. Each of those villages has (or shares) its own Justice Court. If you received a ticket or were arrested within one of those village boundaries, your case belongs in the village court — not Ramapo Town Court. Ramapo Town Court handles matters from the unincorporated areas of the town that fall outside any village boundary. If you're not certain which court your summons names, bring the paperwork and call us — we'll tell you immediately.

A significant portion of Ramapo's residents — particularly in Monsey, Spring Valley, and the surrounding communities — are Spanish-speaking. Navigating the criminal court process without clear communication in your first language is not just stressful; it can lead to decisions made without full understanding of the consequences. Yvonne Garbett's office has Spanish-speaking interpreters on staff. Every step of your case — from the first phone call through the final court date — can be handled in Spanish. You deserve to understand exactly what is happening in your case. Se habla español.

Three judges with different approaches, a rotation schedule that changes regularly, one of the highest case volumes of any justice court in Rockland County, and a diverse prosecution structure — Ramapo Town Court rewards attorneys who know it. Yvonne Garbett appears here regularly and understands the practical realities that shape case outcomes: which matters can be resolved at the first appearance, which prosecutors have authority to offer meaningful reductions, and how each judge handles specific types of charges. That knowledge belongs to you when you hire local counsel.