Tioga County Courts

County Court

Tioga County Court
16 Court Street
P.O. Box 307
Owego, NY 13827

County Court Judge
Hon. Gerald Keene

Secretary
Jill E. VanHousen
Phone: 607-689-6107
Fax: 646-963-6430

Court Attorney
Mara Y. Grace

Chief Clerk
JoAnn Peet
Phone: 607-689-6102
Fax: 212-401-5970

General Information

The County Court is established in each county outside New York City. It is authorized to handle prosecution of crimes committed within the county, although, in practice County Court handles only felony cases. Misdemeanors and violations are usually handled in town or village courts. The County Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine all appeals from the town and village courts. In addition, County Court has limited jurisdiction in civil cases involving amounts up to $25,000. In a number of counties, including Tioga, the County Court Judge also functions as the Family Court Judge and Surrogate's Court Judge. In those counties, the judge is referred to as a "multi-hat" judge.