A court docket is the running record of everything filed and scheduled in a case, kept in order by date. In Monroe County, New York, the Supreme and County Court at the Hall of Justice maintains those entries for Rochester matters, and the clerk’s office controls what the public may read. Each line points to a paper or an event.
Use the index number when you request a docket, since the number stays with a case from filing to judgment. Party names help at the start, yet a shared surname can return a long list. Ask for the chronological view, which shows motions, adjournments, and decisions in the order staff entered them. Read the newest entries first, then work backward.
Court Docket Search
Begin with the court that heard the case, then look for its docket index. The Supreme and County Court clerk in Room 545 keeps court records for cases filed in Rochester, and staff can search by index number or by party name. Staff keep the counter open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with 585-371-3758 as the main line. Bring identification and any prior notice that lists the case.
Docket Activity & Hearing Schedules
Each docket entry records one piece of case information: a filing, a conference, a motion return date, or a decision. Hearing schedules sit beside those entries as calendar items that name a date, a time, a part, and a courtroom. Activity can pause for months between a filing and a decision, so read the dates rather than assuming the matter stalled. The newest entry usually shows the next step.
Criminal, Civil, Family & Probate Filings
Criminal matters, civil suits, Family Court petitions, and probate files each follow their own index series, and a docket reflects only the court that holds the case. A felony indictment sits with County Court, a contract dispute with Supreme Court, and an estate accounting with Surrogate’s Court. Ask which bench handled the matter before you search. The wrong court will return no entries, so confirm the venue from the summons or notice.
Filings, Motions, Orders & Judgments
A filing starts a request, a motion asks for a ruling, an order grants or denies it, and a judgment closes the relief sought. Docket entries list each paper by title and date of entry, and a short description may follow. Read the order text before quoting a result, since a decision on one motion rarely settles the whole case. Judgments carry the terms a party must satisfy.
Upcoming, Rescheduled & Completed Hearings
A calendar entry can change more than once. Upcoming hearings show the next date, a rescheduled hearing carries a new date and often a reason code, and a completed hearing sits with a minute entry or a note that the appearance happened. Verify the current date the morning you plan to attend. Bring the index number, since calendars sort by case. Staff can confirm whether a courtroom or a part number changed.
Chronological Activity Timelines
A chronological view lists every event from the first filing to the latest order, with the date of entry beside each item. This timeline shows gaps, repeated adjournments, and the point where a judge ruled. Docket case history reads best from the oldest entry forward when you trace how a dispute developed. Note each date you plan to cite, and match it to the paper.
Public Availability & Copy Requests
Most docket information for Supreme and County Court is available at the clerk’s office during posted hours, and a public terminal may offer a partial view. Not every entry is open, and a judge can restrict a file. Ask for the index record first, then name the documents you need copied in writing. The clerk decides what may be released and what requires a signed court order.
Public Search Logs & Sealed Exclusions
Some offices keep a log of searches performed at the counter, which records the date and the index reviewed. Sealed court records stay out of any public list, and a restricted file may show only a case number with no detail. Family Court matters involving young parties carry their own confidentiality rules. Ask whether an index is sealed before you conclude that staff lost the file.
Online Directory & Court Clerk Requests
State court pages offer a case lookup for some matters, yet coverage for Monroe County filings can be thin, and a directory entry rarely includes the underlying papers. Request the full docket at the clerk’s counter in Room 545, 99 Exchange Blvd., Rochester, NY 14614. Give the index number and the date range you need. Staff can print a current entry list before you leave the counter, and a printed copy beats a phone photo.
Rochester, NY 14614
Rochester, NY 14614
Rochester, NY 14614
Certified Copies, Fees & Timelines
A certified docket copy carries a seal and a signature that another court or agency will accept. The clerk charges a per-page rate plus a certification fee, and staff can quote the total before copying. Docket processing time depends on the age of the case and whether the record sits on site. Recent entries often print the same day, and archived files may need several days.
Record Accuracy & Resolution
Compare a docket printout against the clerk’s own case lookup before you act on it. Commercial sites copy data from many sources, and an entry can lose a date, a party, or a disposition along the way. Verification means checking the index number and the newest entry with court staff. A wrong case number sends you to an unrelated file, and an outdated printout can hide a recent ruling.
System Delays for Recent Filings
A paper handed to the clerk this morning may not appear in the public index until staff enter it. Delayed docket updates affect new complaints, motions, and judgments alike, and a holiday or a heavy calendar can stretch the gap. Electronic filing shortens the wait for cases in the state system, yet the public view still trails. Call the clerk before you resubmit a request, and ask when the entry is expected.
Unlisted Docket & Hearing Resolution
A docket that shows nothing may belong to a court outside the county system. A town or village justice court, Family Court, and Surrogate’s Court each keep separate calendars and indexes. Missing docket entries can mean a mistyped case number or a file moved to archives. Ask the clerk to check the shelf list in person or by phone, and request a written reply that names the sources searched and the date.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover the questions asked most often at the counter in Rochester. They describe general practice for Supreme and County Court dockets, not legal advice about a specific case. Rules on sealed entries, fees, and copying can change, so confirm details with staff before you travel. Bring the index number when you call, and note who helped you. Nothing here replaces the official index held by the clerk.
How quickly do new hearing schedules post online?
A hearing date often appears within a day or two after a judge sets it, and a paper calendar may be entered sooner than the online list. Scheduling changes during a busy term can take longer to publish. If a date is close, call the part or the clerk to confirm the time and courtroom. Do not rely on an entry you saw a week earlier.
What details are included in a public docket log?
A docket log usually lists the index number, the parties, the court, the filing date, and each event with its date of entry. Motion titles, adjournments, orders, and judgments appear as separate lines. Some entries include a short description or a reference to a filed paper. Keep a copy of the entry list for your records. A public log rarely contains the document text itself, so ask for the paper separately.
What is required to obtain certified docket copies?
Bring the index number, the date of the entry, and photo identification to Room 545, or send a written request that names each item. Include a daytime phone number so staff can reach you. Pay the scheduled per-page and certification fees by check or money order. State whether you will collect the copies or want them mailed. Staff can confirm the cost and the pickup time before the copies leave the office.
Who confirms missing or unlisted court docket entries?
Start with the clerk of the court that should hold the case, since that office can read its own index and shelf list. A matter from a town court, Family Court, or Surrogate’s Court needs a call to that clerk. For older years, ask about archived dockets and microfilm. A written reply will state whether the entry exists and what was checked, so keep it with your case papers.