Criminal Court - Kings County

About This Court

Kings County Criminal Court in Brooklyn handles misdemeanor cases and preliminary felony proceedings, including arraignments and pretrial hearings.

Brooklyn Criminal Court handles a high volume of cases and shares the Schermerhorn Street area with other court facilities. The court reporter's office manages transcript requests, and Brooklyn's caseload means reporters juggle many pending requests. Accurate case identifiers are critical to avoid delays.

All proceedings are recorded by stenographic court reporters. No digital audio recordings are made. The stenographic transcript is the official record.

Who Can Request

Defendants and their attorneys may request transcripts. Prosecution and court-appointed parties also have access. Public access to criminal transcripts generally requires a court order.

What You Can Request

• Certified transcript: Yes. Official transcripts are available.
• Audio copy: No. Audio recordings are not provided to litigants.
• On-site listening: Not available.

Recording method: Stenographic (court reporter)

What You Need (Data Checklist)

• Case name and index/docket number
• Date(s) of the proceeding
• Judge's name and courtroom/part (if known)
• Your contact information (name, phone, address)

Court-Specific Process

1. Contact the Kings County Criminal Court court reporter's office by phone, mail, or in person at the Schermerhorn Street courthouse.
2. Provide the defendant's name, docket number, hearing date, and judge or courtroom part.
3. The assigned court reporter produces the transcript from stenographic notes.
4. Pay the statutory per-page rate and receive the transcript by mail or in-person pickup.

Fees & Timing

Statutory rates apply (typically $1.00-$1.75 per page for ordinary copies). Brooklyn's high caseload may result in several weeks of turnaround. Expedited or daily copy service is available at a higher rate. Inquire with the court about fee assistance if the defendant is indigent.

Common Pitfalls

Before You Submit