1 Court Street, Riverhead. The easternmost Supreme Court in the New York metro area. Civil matters are heard in Riverhead, not Central Islip. Know the building, know the rules, and know the judges.
Last verified: March 2026
Verified against nycourts.gov part assignments and confirmed by in-person appearances at 1 Court Street, Riverhead. See revision notes at the bottom of this page.
Suffolk County Supreme Court operates within the 10th Judicial District, which is shared with Nassau County. The District Administrative Judge is the Honorable Andrew A. Crecca.
A critical point: Civil matters are heard in Riverhead, not Central Islip. Many attorneys are unaware of this distinction, which results in missed appearances or incorrect calendaring.
All civil (non-matrimonial) matters. This is where per diem appearances are conducted.
Discovery conferences, motions, oral arguments, and trial support occur at this facility. This is the building you need to know.
Additional Supreme, County, Family Court, and Law Library space. Overflow and supplemental matters are handled here.
Some judges maintain chambers in both locations.
Matrimonial and guardianship matters. If your civil case appears on a Central Islip calendar, you are in the wrong courthouse.
Verify all calendars on WebCivil Supreme.
Distance and Travel: Riverhead is approximately 75 miles east of Manhattan. Travel time is 90 minutes to 2 hours via the Long Island Expressway, depending on traffic and time of day. This distance is the primary reason firms retain per diem coverage.
Suffolk County Supreme Court operates under specific procedural rules that differ substantially from typical New York County practice. Familiarity with these rules is essential.
Before filing any discovery motion, you must attempt informal resolution through a discovery conference. This requirement is enforced strictly.
Suffolk County operates a free ADR program for qualifying cases. Schedules vary by case track:
Personal Injury Track:
Commercial Non-CD Track:
ADR is free to all parties.
In Suffolk County, the preliminary conference is sometimes referred to as the "8-A conference." Scheduling follows state rules, with case-specific modifications.
Suffolk County hosts a Commercial Division as part of the Statewide Commercial Division Program. Commercial cases are assigned to dedicated justices with commercial law expertise.
Two justices preside over Commercial Division matters:
IAS Part 44 (Commercial Division)
IAS Part 8 (General Civil)
Judge Andrews brings extensive commercial experience to both parts. In practice, he manages his calendar in a practical, order-focused manner. When a receiver or party raises substantive grievances (for example, missing revenue or housekeeping disputes), he directs counsel to file the appropriate motion (an accounting motion, for instance) rather than granting contempt or broad relief from the bench. Prepare to walk into Part 44 with motion papers ready, not expectations of summary rulings.
IAS Part 43 (Commercial Division)
Judge Hennings maintains a robust commercial docket.
All Commercial Division cases in Suffolk County follow the Statewide Commercial Division Rules. These rules are enforced uniformly across all jurisdictions. The Suffolk threshold is $100,000.
For procedural detail, see the Commercial Division Playbook. For the causes of action that travel through the Commercial Division, see Business Disputes, Breach of Contract, Partnership and LLC Disputes, and Shareholder Disputes.
The Law Office of Frederic R. Abramson provides comprehensive per diem coverage for civil litigation matters at Suffolk County Supreme Court. Our network includes experienced Long Island practitioners with deep knowledge of Suffolk County procedures and the judges.
Senior Network Attorney: Our Suffolk County coverage is handled by a senior network attorney with extensive Long Island Supreme Court experience. This ensures consistency, professional representation, and familiarity with local judges and procedures.
Flat-rate per diem coverage for Discovery and Compliance Conferences, motion appearances, Orders to Show Cause, EBTs (half or full day), 50-H property examinations, and interpreter add-ons. Rates quoted on confirmation.
Book a Suffolk County Supreme Court appearance or discuss your per diem coverage needs.