The Court of Appeals sits atop the State judicial system. Matters argued before the Court have often been heard by two lower courts (a trial court and the Appellate Division).

Except in cases involving a Federal question, where the Supreme Court of the United States, has the last word, the Court of Appeals makes the final statement of decisional law in New York State.

In recent years, the Court has written opinions in about 175 cases annually, in addition to deciding approximately 1,200 motions for leave to appeal in civil cases and 2,800 criminal leave applications.