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Vermont District Courts

Select a county to find the judge(s), court manager, deputy court manager, address, telephone number and two week calendar for each District Court.
ADDISON BENNINGTON CALEDONIA
CHITTENDEN ESSEX FRANKLIN
GRAND ISLE LAMOILLE ORANGE
ORLEANS RUTLAND WASHINGTON
WINDHAM WINDSOR  


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Each of Vermont's 14 counties has a District Court. These courts are responsible for hearing:

  • nearly all criminal cases
  • some civil cases
    • civil suspension
    • fish and wildlife violations
    • appeals of traffic ticket and municipal ordinance violation decisions

Criminal Cases
In a criminal case, the defendant is accused by the government (the plaintiff) of violating state law. Crimes are divided into 2 categories: felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies are crimes, such as armed robbery, murder or sexual assault, for which a person could be jailed for two or more years if convicted. Misdemeanors are crimes resulting in a maximum sentence of less than 2 years; examples of misdemeanors include petty larceny, driving while intoxicated and simple assault.

The government is always represented by a lawyer, the state's attorney, who prosecutes the charge(s) against the defendant. Some defendants hire an attorney to act on their behalf in court while others represent themselves. In Vermont, defendants who are unable to afford an attorney and face severe sentences if convicted may ask the Court to assign a public defender to represent them; if the request is approved, the state will pay some, or all, of the attorney's fees.

The Constitution guarantees defendants the right to have a jury determine whether they are guilty. A judge may decide the case if the defendant gives up his/her right to a trial by jury. Regardless of who makes the decision, the state's attorney must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of committing the crime. Once guilt has been established, the judge determines an appropriate punishment.

Not all criminal charges result in a trial. The judge may dismiss a charge because there is not enough evidence to justify prosecuting the case. A defendant may plead guilty before a trial occurs. Some charges are dismissed by the state's attorney.

Civil Cases
Civil filings in Vermont District Court include civil suspension of one's license to drive, fish and wildlife violations and appeals of traffic ticket and municipal ordinance violation decisions.

Most defendants represent themselves in court proceedings. The state is the plaintiff in civil suspension and fish and wildlife violations; in these cases, the plaintiff is represented by the state's attorney.

While litigants have the option of a jury trial, many choose to have their cases decided by a judge. In civil trials, judgment is based on the preponderance of evidence. For example, in a civil suspension case, if the evidence presented by the state to prove that the defendant was intoxicated was more convincing than the evidence given by the defendant that s/he was not drunk then the judge will decide in favor of the state and the defendant will lose her/his license to drive.

There are seventeen District Court judges. These judges may hear Superior, District or Family Court cases. Trial Court law clerks perform the legal research necessary to help judges reach well-informed decisions. District Court Managers and their staff are responsible for the daily operations of the Court.

ADDISON DISTRICT COURT
7 Mahady Court · Middlebury, VT 05753 · (802) 388-4237

Honorable Cortland Corsones, Presiding Judge
Chip Epperson, Court Manager
Anne Williams, Deputy Court Manager

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BENNINGTON DISTRICT COURT
150 Veterans Memorial Drive · Bennington, VT 05201 · (802) 447-2727

Honorable John Wesley, Presiding Judge
Mary Frost, Court Manager
Kimberly S. Phillips, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar

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CALEDONIA DISTRICT COURT
1126 Main St · Suite 1 · St. Johnsbury, VT 05819-2694 · (802) 748-6600

Honorable Howard VanBenthuysen, Presiding Judge
Kathleen Pearl, Court Manager
Brenda Ball, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar

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CHITTENDEN DISTRICT COURT
32 Cherry Street, Suite 300 · Burlington, VT 05401 · (802) 651-1950

Honorable Geoffrey Crawford, Presiding Judge
Honorable James Crucitti, Judge
Honorable Ben Joseph, Judge
Honorable Matthew Katz, Judge
Honorable Linda Levitt, Judge
Honorable Patricia Zimmerman, Judge

Christine Brock, Court Manager
Joanne Charbonneau, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar

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ESSEX DISTRICT COURT
P.O. Box 75 · Guildhall, VT 05905 · (802) 676-3910

Honorable Robert Bent, Presiding Judge
Angelina Desilets,  Court Manager

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FRANKLIN DISTRICT COURT
36 Lake Street · St. Albans, VT 05478 · (802) 524-7997

Honorable Michael Kupersmith, Presiding Judge
Gaye Paquette, Court Manager

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GRAND ISLE DISTRICT COURT
P.O. Box 7· North Hero, VT 05474 · (802) 372-8350

Honorable Gregory Rainville, Presiding Judge
Sherry Britton, Court Manager
Evanthia Hill, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar

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LAMOILLE DISTRICT COURT
P.O. Box 489 · Hyde Park, VT 05655-0489 · (802) 888-3887

Honorable Christina Reiss, Presiding Judge
Cathy Wilson, Acting Court Manager

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ORANGE DISTRICT COURT
5 Court St. · Chelsea, VT 05038 · (802) 685-4610

Honorable Mary Miles Teachout, Presiding Judge
Penelope C. Carrier, Court Manager
Sabra Sutton, Deputy Clerk

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ORLEANS DISTRICT COURT
217 Main Street · Newport, VT 05855 · (802) 334-3325

Honorable Walter Morris, Presiding Judge
Tina de la Bruere, Court Manager
Janice Urie, Deputy Court Manger

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RUTLAND DISTRICT COURT
9 Merchants Row · Rutland, VT 05701-2836 · (802) 786-5880

Honorable Thomas Zonay, Presiding Judge
Laurie Canty, Court Manager
Diane Henderson, Deputy Court Manager
 

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WASHINGTON DISTRICT COURT
255 North Main Street · Barre VT 05641 · (802) 479-4252

Honorable Brian Grearson, Presiding Judge
Carolyn A. Hutchinson, Court Manager
Paula Tremblay, Deputy Court Manager

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WINDHAM DISTRICT COURT
30 Putney Road, Suite 2· Brattleboro, VT 05301 · (802) 257-2800 

Juror Telephone Number - Call After 6 p.m.

802-257-2853

Honorable Karen Carroll, Presiding Judge
Ann Patterson, Court Manager
Suzanne Borichevsky, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar

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WINDSOR DISTRICT COURT
82 Railroad Row · White River Junction, VT 05001 · (802) 295-8865

Honorable Theresa DiMauro, Presiding Judge
Tari Scott, Court Manager
Roberta Hodgdon, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar

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Vermont Judiciary
modified 08.05.2008 14:13
 
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