The Buffalo City Court Bureau, led by Chief Andres D. Ortiz and Assistant Chief Samantha N. King, handles the highest volume of criminal cases in the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
Buffalo City Court is comprised of nine regular criminal parts and specialty parts, including its many Diversion Courts (Domestic Violence, Drug, Mental Health, Opioid Intervention, Human Trafficking and Veteran’s Court).
All cases, whether felonies or misdemeanors, must be reviewed for legal and factual sufficiency. Assistant District Attorneys assigned to the Buffalo City Court Bureau must handle the follow-up investigation, conduct legal research, respond to motions, obtain statements from witnesses, locate and secure evidence, conduct pre-trial hearings and continue to trial if the matter cannot be resolved by a plea agreement.