The Eastern District of New York covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island. Manhattan and the Bronx are in a different court, the Southern District of New York. Here is where the court sits, who prosecutes and defends cases there, and where its rules are published.
We handle federal cases nationwide.
Where does the court sit?
The district covers Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), Nassau and Suffolk counties, and court is held at Brooklyn, Hauppauge, Hempstead (including the village of Uniondale) and Central Islip (28 U.S.C. § 112(c)). The court's site lists two courthouses:
Brooklyn
225 Cadman Plaza East. The court calls this its main courthouse.
Central Islip
100 Federal Plaza, Central Islip, in Suffolk County on Long Island.
Under the court's Rules for the Division of Business (Rule 1(d)(2)), a criminal case is a Central Islip case if the alleged crime was committed wholly or in substantial part in Nassau or Suffolk County. Otherwise it is a Brooklyn case.
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Which appeals court covers it?
Appeals from this court go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (28 U.S.C. §§ 41, 1294(1)). Its decisions are binding on the federal judges in this district, so its precedent governs cases here (uscourts.gov, About the U.S. Courts of Appeals).
Who prosecutes and who defends?
Federal prosecutors here work for the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, part of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Anyone charged with a federal crime who can’t afford a lawyer can ask the court to appoint one (18 U.S.C. § 3006A). Here, appointed lawyers come from the Federal Defenders of New York, a Community Defender organization, an independent nonprofit that serves the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, or from a panel of private lawyers the court approves.
Where are the local rules and sentencing procedures?
Every federal court follows the national rules, such as the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, plus its own local rules. This court publishes them on its local rules page.
The joint local rules of the Eastern and Southern Districts have no separate presentence report rule. The federal rule applies: the report goes to the defense at least 35 days before sentencing, and objections are due within 14 days (Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(e)(2), (f)). Each judge also posts individual practices on the court's site.
Is Brandon Sample admitted in this court?
Yes. Brandon Sample is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He has also handled federal cases in courts across the country.
Which federal prisons are in this district?
Bureau of Prisons facility in this district (from bop.gov; it is in Kings County, which 28 U.S.C. § 112(c) places in the Eastern District):
- MDC Brooklyn
Administrative security. 80 29th Street, Brooklyn.
FCI Otisville is in the Southern District of New York.
A prison being in this district doesn’t mean someone sentenced here will go there. The Bureau of Prisons decides where each person serves their sentence (18 U.S.C. § 3621(b)).
What families should know about federal cases in this district
- The first hearing comes fast. After an arrest, the person goes before a magistrate judge without unnecessary delay for an initial appearance (Fed. R. Crim. P. 5(a)). The judge decides whether they stay in custody while the case goes on (18 U.S.C. § 3142).
- Most felony cases start with an indictment. A grand jury decides in private whether to approve the charges (Fed. R. Crim. P. 6, 7).
- The presentence report matters. A federal probation officer writes a report on the offense and the person’s life before sentencing, and the defense can object to mistakes in it (Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(c)–(f)). Check this court’s schedule above.
- The judge decides the sentence. The judge must consider the Sentencing Guidelines and the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), including the person’s history and background. Families can write letters; there is no limit on the background information a judge may consider (18 U.S.C. § 3661).
- The appeal clock is short. A defendant’s notice of appeal is usually due within 14 days after the judgment is entered (Fed. R. App. P. 4(b)(1)(A)).
- Prison phones and email are monitored. Don’t discuss the case on them (28 C.F.R. § 540.102).
Questions about the Eastern District of New York
Is a federal case from Brooklyn, Queens or Long Island in the Eastern District?
Yes. The Eastern District of New York covers Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), Nassau and Suffolk counties (28 U.S.C. § 112(c)). Manhattan and the Bronx are in the Southern District of New York (28 U.S.C. § 112(b)).
Will the case be in Brooklyn or Central Islip?
It depends on where the alleged crime happened. Under the court's Rules for the Division of Business, a criminal case is a Central Islip case if the alleged crime was committed wholly or in substantial part in Nassau or Suffolk County; otherwise it is a Brooklyn case (Rule 1(d)(2)).
What if my loved one can't afford a lawyer?
The court can appoint one (18 U.S.C. § 3006A). In this district, appointed lawyers come from Federal Defenders of New York or from a panel of private lawyers the court approves.
Where do appeals from this court go?
To the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (28 U.S.C. §§ 41, 1294(1)). A defendant's notice of appeal is usually due within 14 days after the judgment is entered (Fed. R. App. P. 4(b)(1)(A)).
Sources
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- E.D.N.Y. locations
- 28 U.S.C. § 112
- E.D.N.Y. Rules for the Division of Business (eff. Feb. 17, 2025 PDF, archived copy)
- E.D.N.Y./S.D.N.Y. Joint Local Rules (Jan. 2, 2026 PDF)
- 28 U.S.C. § 41 (circuits)
- uscourts.gov: About the U.S. Courts of Appeals
- USAO Eastern District of New York
- Federal Defenders of New York: About us
- MDC Brooklyn (bop.gov)
- BOP locations list