nysd.uscourts.gov

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) covers eight counties in downstate New York: New York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan. The court hears cases at three locations — Manhattan, White Plains, and Poughkeepsie — and jurors are drawn from those same eight counties. If you live in one of these counties and are called for federal jury service in the Southern District, or if your case falls within its geographic boundaries, this is the court that has jurisdiction.

Counties Within the District

The district's territorial reach is defined by these eight counties:

• New York County (Manhattan)
• Bronx County
• Westchester County
• Rockland County
• Putnam County
• Orange County
• Dutchess County
• Sullivan County

This means the SDNY's jurisdiction spans from Manhattan and the Bronx north through the Hudson Valley and into the Catskills region (Sullivan County).

Where the Court Hears Cases

The court conducts proceedings at three courthouse locations:

The specific courthouse assigned to a case depends on the judge and the nature of the matter, so parties should confirm the location in their case documents rather than assume Manhattan.

What This Means for Jurors and Litigants

For jurors: If you reside in any of the eight counties listed above, you may be summoned for jury service in the Southern District of New York. Your service location will be one of the three courthouses.

For litigants: A federal case must be filed in the district where the events occurred or where the parties reside. If your dispute arises in one of these eight counties, the SDNY is the proper venue (subject to other jurisdictional rules). Before appearing, parties should review the Individual Practices of the assigned judge, as the court's homepage advises.

For the general public: The district has sat continuously in New York since 1789 and was the first court to convene under the U.S. Constitution, preceding the Supreme Court by a few months. Its historical docket includes the Titanic and Lusitania claims, the Rosenberg and Alger Hiss espionage cases, and the government's challenges to publication of Ulysses and the Pentagon Papers.

Quick Reference

• Counties covered: New York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Sullivan
• Courthouse locations: Manhattan, White Plains, Poughkeepsie
• Jury pool: Drawn from the eight counties above
• Official site: nysd.uscourts.gov

The website at nysd.uscourts.gov is the official homepage of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (often abbreviated SDNY). It is the online entry point for the federal trial court whose jurisdiction covers New York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan counties, and which hears cases in Manhattan, White Plains, and Poughkeepsie, New York. If you are looking for court information, judge listings, or procedural guidance for a case in this district, this is the authoritative source.

What the Court Covers

The Southern District of New York draws jurors from the same eight counties it serves:

• New York
• Bronx
• Westchester
• Rockland
• Putnam
• Orange
• Dutchess
• Sullivan

Court sessions are held in three locations: Manhattan, White Plains, and Poughkeepsie.

Why This Court Is Historically Notable

According to the court's own homepage, the District of New York held its first session on the first Tuesday of November 1789 at the Old Royal Exchange in lower Manhattan, presided over by Judge James Duane, who was appointed by President Washington. It was the first court to sit under the new United States Constitution, preceding the United States Supreme Court by a few months. The District and its successor, the Southern District of New York, have sat continuously in New York, NY, since 1789.

Judges who have served on the court include Justice Sonia Sotomayor, former Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson, Sr., former Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, and former FBI Director Louis J. Freeh. Historically significant cases heard in the court include claims arising from the sinking of the Titanic and the Lusitania, the Cold War espionage cases of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and Alger Hiss, and the government's challenges to the publication of James Joyce's Ulysses and the New York Times's Pentagon Papers.

What You Can Find on the Site

The homepage organizes its main navigation around several areas, including:

• Judges — a listing of current U.S. District Judges and U.S. Magistrate Judges
• Serve as Pro Bono Counsel — information on pro bono service
• History of the Court — background on the court's origins and development
• Payment Information — a dedicated page for payment-related matters

Before You Appear in This Court

The court advises that, prior to appearing before it, parties should be familiar with the Individual Practices of the judge who has been assigned to their case. Individual Practices vary by judge, so identifying your assigned judge and reviewing that judge's specific rules is a practical first step.

Before appearing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), parties should first identify the judge assigned to their case and review that judge's Individual Practices. The court's own guidance states that "prior to appearing before the Court, parties should be familiar with the Individual Practices of the judge who has been assigned to their case." Because each judge sets specific courtroom procedures, preparation starts with judge-specific rules rather than a single court-wide checklist.

Step 1: Confirm Your Case Is in the SDNY

The SDNY covers the counties of New York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan. The court hears cases in Manhattan, White Plains, and Poughkeepsie, New York. If your matter falls outside these counties, you are likely in a different district.

Step 2: Identify the Assigned Judge

You cannot prepare properly until you know which judge is handling your case. The court directs users to its Judges section for a listing of current U.S. District Judges and U.S. Magistrate Judges. Use that listing to confirm the name and title of the judge assigned to your matter.

Step 3: Review the Judge's Individual Practices

This is the core preparation step. Individual Practices are judge-specific documents that describe how that judge runs proceedings — they can differ meaningfully from one judge to another. Read the assigned judge's Individual Practices in full and note any requirements that affect you, such as:

• How and when to submit filings or correspondence
• Rules for courtroom appearances and scheduling
• Expectations for pre-motion conferences or courtesy copies

Because these practices vary by judge, do not rely on another judge's procedures or on general assumptions about courtroom conduct.

Step 4: Check the Court's Website for Supporting Resources

The SDNY website (nysd.uscourts.gov) is the central entry point for court information. Beyond the Judges section, the site also provides a Payment Information page for matters involving court payments. Use the site's main navigation to locate the sections relevant to your case type.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Assuming all judges work the same way. Individual Practices differ by judge; what applies in one courtroom may not apply in another.
• Waiting until the appearance date. Familiarity with the assigned judge's practices is expected before you appear, not on the day of.
• Skipping the judge listing. If you are unsure who your judge is, start with the Judges section rather than guessing.

Quick Reference

The single most important takeaway: preparation is judge-specific. Identify your judge, read their Individual Practices, and confirm any administrative requirements through the court's website before your appearance.

The official website of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (nysd.uscourts.gov) is the court's public information hub. It serves anyone who needs to identify judges, understand court history, find pro bono counsel opportunities, or handle administrative matters such as payments. The site covers the district's jurisdiction over New York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan counties, with cases heard in Manhattan, White Plains, and Poughkeepsie.

Main Navigation Sections

The homepage's main navigation organizes the court's most-used resources. Key sections referenced on the site include:

• Judges — a listing of current U.S. District Judges and U.S. Magistrate Judges
• History of the Court — background on the court's origins and notable cases
• Serve as Pro Bono Counsel — information for attorneys interested in pro bono service
• Payment Information — administrative guidance for court-related payments

Judges and Individual Practices

The Judges section provides the current roster of U.S. District Judges and U.S. Magistrate Judges. This matters because the court advises that, prior to appearing before the Court, parties should be familiar with the Individual Practices of the judge assigned to their case. In other words, the site is not just a directory — it points litigants to the judge-specific rules that govern filings and courtroom conduct.

Court History and Notable Cases

The History of the Court section documents the district's long record. The District of New York held its first session on the first Tuesday of November 1789 at the Old Royal Exchange in lower Manhattan, presided over by Judge James Duane, appointed by President Washington. It was the first court to sit under the new United States Constitution, preceding the Supreme Court by a few months, and the district and its successor, the Southern District of New York, have sat continuously in New York, NY, since 1789.

Judges who have served on the court include Justice Sonia Sotomayor, former Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson, Sr., former Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, and former FBI Director Louis J. Freeh. Historically significant cases heard by the court include claims arising from the sinking of the Titanic and the Lusitania, the Cold War espionage cases of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and Alger Hiss, and government challenges to the publication of James Joyce's Ulysses and the New York Times's Pentagon Papers.

Pro Bono Counsel and Administrative Resources

Attorneys can use the Serve as Pro Bono Counsel section to learn how to participate in the court's pro bono program. For administrative matters, the site links to Payment Information, which is the entry point for payment-related guidance. The homepage does not state specific fees or whether any service is free, so users should consult the linked pages directly for current details.

How to Use the Site Effectively

1. Identify your judge first — go to the Judges section, find the assigned judge, then review that judge's Individual Practices before filing or appearing.
2. Check jurisdiction — confirm your case falls within the district's counties (New York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Sullivan) and courthouse locations (Manhattan, White Plains, Poughkeepsie).
3. Use history and pro bono pages for context — the History section helps with research or public understanding; the Pro Bono page is aimed at attorneys seeking to serve.
4. Handle payments through the dedicated page — follow the Payment Information link rather than assuming procedures from the homepage.

The site is primarily a navigation and reference tool: it tells you where to find judge information, court rules, historical records, and administrative guidance, but the substantive details live in the linked sections.