Former prosecutor defense for DWI, drug, assault, weapons, and federal charges in Westchester County. Free 24/7 consultation: 646-453-4001.
Spahija Law defends clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges in Westchester County, led by Amel Spahija, a former Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn and Staten Island. The charges we defend include DWI, drug offenses, assault, weapons charges, domestic violence, theft, and federal matters.
Westchester felonies proceed in Westchester County Court at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in White Plains, with local criminal courts across the county handling misdemeanors and arraignments.
These are the courts where Westchester County cases are heard. If you are unsure which one your case is in, the court name is printed on your arrest paperwork or desk appearance ticket, and we can confirm it for you.
111 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, White Plains, NY 10601
Open in Maps111 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, White Plains, NY 10601
Open in MapsWestchester cases move through a network of local justice courts before reaching County Court. Knowing which court you are in, and what that court's practices are, shapes strategy from the first appearance.
Read about the former prosecutor advantage and see our case results. Our primary office is in Downtown Brooklyn; see the Brooklyn criminal defense page for the full practice overview.
Spahija Law defends the full range of criminal matters in Westchester County, from first arrests to indicted felonies. Common cases include DWI and DUI, drug charges, assault charges, theft and larceny, weapons charges, domestic violence allegations and orders of protection. Federal matters are handled separately through our federal criminal defense practice.
The charge level drives almost everything that follows: which court hears the case, what the exposure is, and how much room exists to negotiate. Our guide to felony versus misdemeanor levels in New York explains where those lines fall and how charges get reduced.
Most matters start with either an arrest or an appearance ticket. After processing, the first court appearance is arraignment, where the charges are read and the judge addresses release conditions and any order of protection. Misdemeanor cases generally stay in the local city, town or village court where the case begins. Felony matters proceed to Westchester County Court at 111 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard in White Plains.
From there the case runs on discovery and motion practice. Under CPL Article 245 the Westchester County District Attorney must turn over its evidence on a statutory schedule, and under CPL 30.30 the clock on readiness keeps running. Those deadlines are where a lot of leverage lives, and enforcing them is routine defense work rather than a long shot. Our case results include matters resolved on exactly those grounds.
Early involvement matters more than most people expect. Statements get made, evidence gets collected or lost, and offers get anchored in the first weeks. Read what to do in the first 24 hours after an arrest and your rights when police stop you.
Beyond criminal defence, Spahija Law also represents clients in Westchester County on personal injury claims and real estate matters, including closings, contract review and landlord tenant disputes.
Amel Spahija spent his early career as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn and Staten Island, reviewing evidence, screening charges and preparing cases for trial. That experience shapes how a defense gets built: what the prosecution needs to prove, where its file is likely to be weak, and which arguments actually move a case. More on the former prosecutor advantage.
Westchester matters often begin in a local city, town or village court, then move to Westchester County Court in White Plains for felony proceedings. Which local court applies depends on where the incident occurred.
Westchester has many separate local courts, each with its own calendar, practices and personnel. Knowing which court a case sits in, and how it runs, affects scheduling and negotiation from the start.
Arraignment usually occurs promptly after arrest, often in the local court. Appearance tickets are common in lower level matters and set a later return date.
Keep every document, confirm which court you are due in, avoid discussing the case with anyone but your lawyer, and retain counsel before the first appearance where possible.
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