What's happening
This bill increases the number of Supreme Court justices in New York's second district from 49 to 52 and in the thirteenth district from 3 to 10.
Why it matters
Expanding the number of Supreme Court justices in these districts could help address case backlogs and improve the speed of judicial proceedings, particularly in areas facing population growth or increased legal demands.
The thirteenth district's expansion from 3 to 10 justices is especially significant, suggesting major growth in legal needs or population, and indicates a substantial shift in judicial resources to Staten Island (the 13th district).
Staggered elections for the new justices (2019, 2020, and 2021) are designed to ensure a gradual transition and avoid overwhelming the election process or the courts with a large influx of new judges at once.
Naming Justice Thomas P. Aliotta and his successor specifically ensures continuity during the transition, which may help maintain stability and institutional knowledge on the bench during this period of rapid change.
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Add More Supreme Court Judges
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1760
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 6201a
- Amend and recommit to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to judiciary
- Delivered to assembly
Show 4 earlier actions
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1664
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Add More Supreme Court Judges
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6201--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 11, 2017
Introduced by Sens. LANZA, SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary -- recommitted to the Committee on Judiciary in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the judiciary law, in relation to the number of justices of the supreme court in the second and thirteenth judicial districts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 2 and 13 of section 140-a of the judiciary law, subdivision 2 as amended and subdivision 13 as added by chapter 690 of the laws of 2007, are amended to read as follows:
2. Second district, [forty-nine] fifty-two;
13. Thirteenth district, [three] ten.
§ 2. Justice Thomas P. Aliotta, and his successor in office on the effective date of this act shall for the remainder of the term for which he or she was elected or appointed be a justice of the supreme court in and for the thirteenth judicial district.
§ 3. Two of the additional justices of the supreme court in the thirteenth judicial district and two additional justices of the supreme court in the second judicial district provided for by section one of this act shall first be elected at the general election to be held in November 2019 and shall first take office January 1, 2020. Another three of the additional justices of the supreme court in the thirteenth judicial district and the other two justices of the supreme court in the second judicial district provided for by section one of this act shall first be elected at the general election to be held in November 2020 and shall first take office January 1, 2021. The remaining additional justice of the supreme court in the thirteenth judicial district provided for by section one of this act shall first be elected at the general election to be held in November 2021 and shall first take office January 1, 2022.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02584-02-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the judiciary law, in relation to the number of justices of the supreme court in the second and thirteenth judicial districts
Purpose
To increase the number of Justices in the 13th Judicial District to ten and to increase the number of Justices in the 2nd Judicial District to fifty-two.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends subdivision 2 and 13 of section 140-a of the Judici- ary Law as added by Chapter 690 of the Laws of 2007 to increase the number of Justices in the 13th Judicial District to ten and to increase the number of Justices in the 2nd Judicial District to fifty-two.
Section two allows Justice Thomas P. Aliotta, and his successor in office on the effective date of this act shall for the remainder of the term for which he or she was elected or appointed to be a justice of the Supreme Court in and for the 13th Judicial District.
Section three requires 2 additional justices of the Supreme Court in the 13th District and 2 additional Justices in the 2nd Judicial District provided for in section one of this act shall first be elected at the general election in held in November 2018 and shall first take office January 1, 2019. Another 3 additional Justices of the Supreme Court in the 13th District and two Justices of the Supreme Court in the 2nd District provided for in Section one of this act shall first be elected at the general election in held in November 2019 and shall first take office January 1, 2020. The remaining Justice for the 13th District shall first be elected at the general election in held in November 2020 and shall first take office January 1, 2021.
Section four is an immediate effective date.
Justification
On December 5, 2007, the Governor signed legislation, Chapter 690 of the Laws of 2007 creating the 13th Judicial District. Under this law, Staten Island (Richmond County) was allowed to have to have three Supreme Court Justices. Under the State Constitution, a Supreme Court District must have one Justice for every 50,000 residents. Based on the most recent U.S. Census data, Staten Island is allowed 10 Justices. By increasing the number of Justices authorized by the New York Constitution, Staten Island should receive more judges to handle ever-heavier caseloads. This bill is the final step in the process to give Staten island the required 10 Justice positions for the 13th Judicial District. The bill will also authorize four Supreme Court Justices to the 2nd Judicial District.
Legislative history
2017: S.6201 - Passed Senate / A.8144 - Referred to Judiciary 2016: S.4657A - Passed Senate / A.8293A - Held in Judiciary 2015: S.4657 - Passed Senate / A.8293- Referred to Judiciary 2014: S.2478A - Referred to Judiciary/ A.4962A - Referred to Judiciary 2013: S.4225 - Referred to Judiciary /A.4962 - Referred to Judiciary 2012: S.4225 - Passed Senate / A.7481 - Referred to Judiciary 2011: S.7481 - Passed Senate / A.7481 - Referred to Judiciary 2010: S.615 - Referred to Judiciary / A.4049 - Referred to Judiciary 2009: S.615 - Referred to Judiciary / A.4049 - Referred to Judiciary 2008: S.6754 - Passed Senate / A.11142 - Referred to Judiciary
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.