The Buffalo City Court Bureau, led by Chief Stephen C. Earnhart and Assistant Chief Danielle E. Phillips, has the highest volume of cases in the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. The court is in session 365 days per year. Assistant District Attorneys must therefore be present for proceedings every day, including all weekends and holidays. Buffalo City Court is comprised of nine regular criminal parts and five specialty parts (Domestic Violence, Juvenile, Drug, Mental Health, Opioid and Veteran’s Court).
Buffalo City Court prosecutors have many in-court and out-of-court duties. All cases, whether felonies or misdemeanors, must be reviewed for legal and factual sufficiency. City Court prosecutors must direct follow-up investigation, conduct legal research, respond to motions, obtain statements from witnesses, locate and secure evidence, conduct pre-trial hearings, and take cases to trial if they cannot be resolved by a plea bargain.