{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cpl", "section": "10.20", "citation": "CPL § 10.20", "heading": "Superior courts; jurisdiction", "text": ["§ 10.20 Superior courts; jurisdiction.", "1. Superior courts have trial jurisdiction of all offenses. They have:", "(a) Exclusive trial jurisdiction of felonies; and", "(b) Trial jurisdiction of misdemeanors concurrent with that of the local criminal courts; and", "(c) Trial jurisdiction of petty offenses, but only when such an offense is charged in an indictment which also charges a crime.", "2. Superior courts have preliminary jurisdiction of all offenses, but they exercise such jurisdiction only by reason of and through the agency of their grand juries.", "3. Superior court judges may, in their discretion, sit as local criminal courts for the following purposes:", "(a) conducting arraignments, as provided in subdivision two of section 170.15 and subdivision two of section 180.20 of this chapter;", "(b) issuing warrants of arrests, as provided in subdivision one of section 120.70 of this chapter; and", "(c) issuing search warrants, as provided in article six hundred ninety of this chapter."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/10.20", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "1. Superior courts have **trial jurisdiction of ALL offenses**. Specifically:\n   - **(a) EXCLUSIVE trial jurisdiction of felonies** ★ (only a superior court can try a felony);\n   - **(b)** trial jurisdiction of **misdemeanors concurrent** with local criminal courts; and\n   - **(c)** trial jurisdiction of **petty offenses only when charged in an indictment that also charges a crime**.\n2. Superior courts have **preliminary jurisdiction of all offenses**, but exercise it **only through their grand juries**. ★\n3. Superior court **judges may, in their discretion, sit as local criminal courts** to: (a) conduct **arraignments** (per §§ 170.15(2), 180.20(2)); (b) issue **arrest warrants** (§ 120.70(1)); and (c) issue **search warrants** (Article 690). ★", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cpl/10.20", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}