The federal building in Rochester, NY is the Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building at 100 State Street in downtown Rochester.1Western District of New York | United States District Court. Accessing the Court It houses the U.S. District Court and Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York, the Rochester branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a USCIS field office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Protective Service, and constituent-service offices for members of Congress. The building keeps standard federal hours, Monday through Friday, and closes on federal holidays.
What’s Inside the Building
The Rochester division of the U.S. District Court sits on the second floor. The Clerk’s Office is in Room 2120, open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, with the cashier window closing earlier at 4:15 p.m.2United States District Court Western District of New York. Clerk’s Office This is the court for federal civil lawsuits, federal criminal cases, and other matters arising under federal law in the Rochester area.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York also operates from the Keating Building, handling cases from the Rochester-area counties while cases from counties closer to Buffalo go to the court’s Buffalo office.3United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York. United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York Home The Clerk’s Office can be reached at (585) 613-4200.
The Rochester Branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is in Suite 500 and can be reached at (585) 263-6760.4United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. Contact Us USCIS runs a field office in the building for naturalization interviews, green card appointments, and other in-person immigration matters; these are by appointment only, and your appointment notice will tell you where to go inside the building.5USCIS. Field Offices The U.S. Marshals Service for the Western District of New York operates here as well.6U.S. Marshals Service. Western District of New York – Courthouse Locations Congressional constituent-service staff in the building can help if you’ve hit a dead end with the Social Security Administration, the IRS, or Veterans Affairs.
Security Screening and the Phone Rule
Every visitor goes through a screening checkpoint run by Court Security Officers. You walk through a metal detector while your bags go through X-ray. Bring a valid photo ID. Firearms, knives, and chemical sprays are prohibited.
The rule that catches most first-time visitors is the electronics policy. Members of the general public must turn off all cell phones, cameras, and recording devices and surrender them to Court Security on entry. You cannot carry your phone inside. Attorneys can apply for a court-issued ID card that allows personal electronic devices into the courthouse; those cards are issued at the Rochester courthouse between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.7United States District Court, Western District of New York. Cell Phone Policy Refusing to comply means being turned away, even if you have a scheduled hearing.
Planning Your Visit
Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your appointment or hearing to get through screening and surrender your electronics. Street parking and nearby garages serve downtown, but build in time for both.
Write down anything you’ll need on paper before you walk in: room numbers, case numbers, docket numbers, your attorney’s name, the agency officer you’re meeting. Once your phone is in the security locker, you have no way to look any of it up.
Filing a Bankruptcy Petition
If you’re coming to file a bankruptcy case, bring the filing fee: $338 for a Chapter 7 and $313 for a Chapter 13. Both totals combine the statutory base fee with an administrative fee set by the Judicial Conference of the United States.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1930 – Bankruptcy Fees If you can’t pay the full amount up front, you can apply to pay in installments, and Chapter 7 filers can request a fee waiver.9Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Rule 1006 – Filing Fee
Procedures for self-represented filers change, including accepted payment methods and the number of copies required. Call the Bankruptcy Clerk’s Office at (585) 613-4200 before you come in to confirm what to bring.3United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York. United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York Home Showing up with the wrong paperwork wastes a trip.