Suffern Village Justice Court: A Criminal Defense Attorney's Guide for Defendants

The Village of Suffern Justice Court — formally titled the Court of Special Session — is located at 61 Washington Avenue, Suffern, NY 10901. The court is separate from and independent of the Ramapo Town Court, despite Suffern being a village within the Town of Ramapo. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A unique feature of Suffern Village Court is its evening session: court is also held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. by appointment — a practical option for defendants who work during the day. The court can be reached at (845) 357-6424 or by email at Court@SuffernNY.gov. Fines can be paid online at suffernny.rmcpay.com (a service fee applies to card payments).

Suffern is a village within the Town of Ramapo, but it operates its own independent court. If you were stopped or arrested within the incorporated village limits of Suffern — on Washington Avenue, Lafayette Avenue, Wayne Avenue, Orange Avenue, or on the portions of Routes 17, 59, and US-202 that pass through the village — your case belongs in Suffern Village Court, not Ramapo Town Court. Ramapo Town Court handles matters from the unincorporated areas of the town. Your summons will tell you which court applies. When in doubt, call us.

The court is presided over by two justices. Hon. Ernest S. Buonocore serves as Village Justice. Hon. Stephanie Furgang Adwar serves as Associate Justice. Court Clerk Stephen Mulvaney staffs the office and handles administrative matters. The court is served by multiple prosecutors: Robert Yodowitz, Esq., Michael Glidden, and Bruce Levine handle prosecution of matters on the court's calendar.

The court has jurisdiction over criminal violations and misdemeanors within the Village of Suffern, Vehicle and Traffic violations (very high volume given the major roadways), parking violations, consumer protection matters, code enforcement violations, landlord-tenant proceedings, and Small Claims up to $3,000. The court also handles civil disputes arising within Suffern's jurisdiction. Cases involving the New York State Thruway or state routes are common here given the village's highway geography.

The New York State Thruway (I-87) passes through the Village of Suffern with a speed limit of 65 mph and is one of the most heavily patrolled stretches in the region. NYSP enforcement is consistent and vigorous, resulting in a steady flow of speeding tickets, DWI arrests, and license-related charges. Route 17 also passes through the village — its fluctuating lane count and changing speed limits create enforcement opportunities that catch unfamiliar drivers. Route 59 and US-202 are active local enforcement corridors as well. Suffern's location at the New York-New Jersey state line means a significant number of out-of-state drivers appear in this court. New York convictions are reported to your home state, which may impose its own penalties separately.

Suffern Village Court offers multiple options for handling your matter before a scheduled court appearance. You may plead not guilty by mail, by email to Court@SuffernNY.gov, or by placing your plea in the secure drop box located outside Village Hall. If you choose to pay a fine, payment is accepted in person during business hours, by mail with a certified bank check or money order payable to Suffern Justice Court, or online at suffernny.rmcpay.com. Credit and debit card payments carry a service fee. Do not pay a traffic fine without speaking to an attorney first.

Suffern Village Court holds evening court sessions on Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. by appointment only. These sessions are particularly useful for defendants who cannot take time off work for daytime appearances. Not all case types are handled in evening sessions — contact the court clerk to confirm whether your matter can be scheduled for an evening date.