Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Branch: The Practitioner's Guide to 851 Grand Concourse

851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY

Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Branch, 12th Judicial District. Administrative Judge for 2026: Hon. Joseph Capella, who emphasizes ADR and is focused on clearing the post-2020 case backlogs.

Security Screening

The security screening at 851 Grand Concourse is rigorous and time-consuming. During peak hours (9:00 to 10:30 AM), lines routinely extend down the steps and onto the sidewalk. You must arrive at least 45 minutes before any scheduled calendar call. This is not a suggestion. If you arrive at 9:25 for a 9:30 calendar call, you will not make it through security in time.

The "Bronx Jury" Factor

Bronx juries have historically been perceived as more empathetic toward plaintiffs, which translates to higher verdict potential. Insurance carriers assign higher reserve values to Bronx cases for this reason. This affects settlement negotiations, case valuation, and civil litigation strategy throughout the life of a Bronx County matter. It is background knowledge every attorney appearing here should have.

The Bronxisms: Unwritten Rules

Three things that will catch you if you don't know them:

1. Summary Judgment Deadlines

The CPLR allows 120 days after Note of Issue to file a summary judgment motion. Many Bronx IAS judges shorten this to 60 or 90 days in their individual Part Rules. If you calculate your SJ deadline based on the CPLR alone, your motion will be dismissed as untimely regardless of its merit. Always check the specific Part Rules for your judge before calculating any deadline.

2. Working Copies

Despite mandatory NYSCEF e-filing, many Bronx judges still require physical working copies delivered to their courtroom or chambers. These copies must be properly tabbed with the NYSCEF confirmation notice attached. Filing electronically and assuming the judge will read it on screen is a mistake in this courthouse.

3. Oral Argument

Do not assume your motion will be decided on papers. Several Bronx judges require oral argument for all substantive motions, including summary judgment and discovery sanctions. If your per diem attorney shows up unprepared to argue because they assumed it would be "on submission," you have a problem.

Specialized Parts: CCP, City, Med-Mal, and MVA

The Trial Assignment Part (TAP)

TAP sits in Courtroom 711, with Hon. Joseph Capella presiding. The court moved the Trial Assignment Part and IA-23 into Courtroom 711 effective October 7, 2024, and both continue to sit there. Note that the Bronx uses TAP rather than a trial scheduling part, so a referral describing a Bronx "TSP" almost always means TAP. Confirm the part before dispatching a covering attorney.

TAP is a fully in-person part. Every settlement conference we have covered in Courtroom 711 has been in person.

The calendar mixes settlement conferences, jury selection, and trial. Only the settlement conferences are ordinary per diem work. If the case does not settle, the part can send it out to trial, which is the risk a referring firm needs to understand before it sends coverage rather than trial counsel.

The part is user-friendly by Bronx standards, but come prepared. A case may appear in TAP four or more times before a trial slip is filed. Both sides participate in choosing trial dates. CPLR 325(d) designations come up regularly on low-value policies. Above all, the attorney who appears must carry settlement authority, because a covering attorney who has to telephone the office to answer a number is of no use to the part and of no use to the client.

The Pre-Trial Part no longer holds post-Note of Issue cases. Post-Note of Issue matters previously calendared for the Pre-Trial Part have been referred to the assigned IAS part. Check the assigned part on eCourts before assuming a pre-trial conference date is still live.

Judges You Need to Know

ADR in the Bronx

Administrative Judge Capella has made settlement and alternative dispute resolution a priority. The courthouse has dedicated ADR resources, and judges actively encourage parties to use mediation and other conflict resolution mechanisms before trial. This push toward settlement affects case trajectory throughout the Bronx system. Practitioners who understand ADR strategy and come to appearances with realistic settlement parameters will navigate Bronx County more effectively.

Booking

Flat-rate per diem coverage for conferences, motions, Orders to Show Cause, EBTs, 50-H hearings, and full-day depositions. Confirmation within 15 minutes of request. Report delivered by end of business day. Rates quoted on confirmation.