Presiding over one of New York State’s busiest local courts, Southampton’s four town justices are assisted by a team of clerks, stenographers, and language interpreters. Each judge is elected to a term of four years, and serves on a rotating monthly basis to hear a variety of cases affecting a broad spectrum of laws.
Hon. Deborah E. Kooperstein
Hon. Gary J. Weber
Hon. Andrea H. Schiavoni
Hon. Barbara L. Wilson
DeBorah Renee' Brathwaite Chief Court Clerk
Responsibilities
The Justice Court is a multi-faceted Court, processing all criminal, civil, traffic, and parking summonses issued within the Town of Southampton. Complaints are handled from the following agencies:
Bay Constables
Building and Zoning
Environmental Conservation
Fire Marshall
New York State Police
Park Rangers
Southampton Town Police
Suffolk County Police
Suffolk County Sheriff
Each court case involves many procedures. For the cases, the initial information must be keyed in and the defendant's plea must be entered. Bail, if set and paid, must be entered, deposited in the bank and a record kept for auditing purposes. The cases must be scheduled for arraignment, for conferences, and maybe for trial. The judge's decision must be noted, if any payment, it is posted to the computer, deposited in the bank, the processing of paperwork; and then the final procedure is to close the case manually and electronically both in CDR and TSLED, so that it can appear on the monthly report.