Supreme Court - Jefferson Law Library

Law Librarian 163 Arsenal Street
Watertown, NY

Phone: (315) 570-2940
FAX: (315) 266-4547
Email: [email protected]

Law Library Assistant 
Edward C. Bautista

Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm
(Closed State & Federal holidays)

 

Overview

A Public Access Law Library of the NYS Unified Court System, 5th Judicial District, The Jefferson County Supreme Court Law Library is a member of the NYS Unified Court Law Libraries Association and collaborates with public libraries within the North Country Library System (NCLS).

courthouse

 

Location & Directions

From Interstate 81, take Exit 45 (Arsenal Street) east toward “Public Square.”  After the 7th traffic light, the Jefferson County Court Complex will be on the right.  The Law Library is on the second floor.  Public parking is available on Stone Street and Arcade Street.

 

History & Management

Formally chartered as the Watertown Law Library, February 26, 1914 by the NYS Board of Regents, its history originates in 1896 as a reference library for a judge of the New York State Court of Appeals.  The Jefferson County Supreme Court Law Library was established as a public facility through legislation (L. 1946, ch. 665) and was housed in the Jefferson County Courthouse.  In September 2004 the library was moved to its current location in the Jefferson County Court Complex.

 

Collections & Services

law books The Jefferson County Supreme Court Law Library maintains a print collection of Federal Statutes, New York Laws and Regulations, Official NY Reporters and the New York Law Journal, along with treatises for general practice.  The collection is included in the catalog of the NY Courts Trial Courts Law Libraries at nycourts.gov.

Law library services include legal research assistance, basic training in the use of online legal research tools, interlibrary loan and circulation.  The library is WiFi accessible.  Two vendor-supplied, self-service copy machines are located at the front of the law library.  Cash only, copies are 20 cents per photocopy, with loadable cards available for $1.00.

inside library

There are two public access computers available.  Library staff will provide instruction on the use of the legal databases to facilitate independent research.

Reference

Legal reference service is provided by the Law Library staff and includes directional and reference assistance as well as bibliographic instruction.  Library staff will provide basic instruction on the use of E-Books, LexisAdvance and WestlawNext for online legal research.  Although staff cannot provide legal advice or counsel, select forms or suggest an attorney for you, staff can assist you in using the Law Library materials to research the areas and topics necessary to answer your legal questions and may refer you to other organizations when appropriate.

Circulation

Court personnel and local attorneys may borrow circulating materials subject to compliance with the circulation policies of the library.  All borrowers must be registered.  A photo ID and one other form of identification (i.e. a current NYS driver’s license and Attorney Registration card) are required to complete a registration form.  All other library patrons must use the materials within the Law Library.

Interlibrary Loans

Material not available at this library can be obtained through our interlibrary loan service.  Most interlibrary loans can be obtained at no cost, but when the supplying library requires a fee, the borrower will be notified and have the option of refusing the offer.  Materials are generally available within a week to ten days, often sooner.