Increases the number of justices of the supreme court in the 9th judicial district and family court judges in the counties of Westchester and Rockland

Title of bill

An act to amend the judiciary law and the family court act, in relation to the number of justices of the supreme court in the ninth judicial district and family court judges in the counties of Westchester and Rockland

Purpose or general idea of bill

This legislation provides the authority to add seven justices in the Supreme Court in the 9th Judicial District and adds two family court judges in the county of Westchester and one family court judge in the county of Rockland.

Summary of specific provisions

Amends subdivision 9 of Section 140-a of the judiciary law and subdivision (k) of section 131 of the Family Court Act.

Justification

Currently, the 9th Judicial District has only 72% of the judges prescribed by the New York State Constitution. New York State's 9th Judicial District currently has 26 Supreme Court Justices serving 1,791,391 residents. Under the State's Constitution, one supreme court justice can be appointed for every 50,000 residents, making the 9th Judicial District eligible for 36 Supreme Court Judges.

This legislation was introduced at the request of Judge Frank Nicolai, Chief Administrative Judge of the 9th District to help ensure all residents of the Judicial District receive, equal, fair, and expeditious judicial treatment. Increasing the number of judges would relieve the overburdened legal system of Rockland and Westchester Counties.

Legislative history

2009 - New Bill.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the additional justices of the supreme court and judges of the family court provided for by this act shall first be elected at the general election to be held in November, 2009, and shall first take office January 1, 2010.