What's happening
This bill allows towns and villages in New York to require their justices to be licensed attorneys if approved locally.
Why it matters
Local Control Over Justice Qualifications. This bill gives towns and villages the power to set higher professional standards for their own justices, allowing communities to decide if they want only licensed attorneys in these roles, which could impact the quality and consistency of local legal proceedings.
Potential for Increased Legal Expertise. By enabling the requirement that justices be admitted to practice law, local governments can ensure their courts are overseen by individuals with formal legal training, which could improve legal decision-making and reduce errors or appeals.
Gradual Implementation Safeguard. The change would only take effect with the next judicial term after a local law is passed, ensuring current justices are not immediately displaced and giving communities time to adapt to new requirements.
Variation Across the State. Because the decision is left up to local governing bodies, there could be increased variation in qualifications for justices across New York, potentially leading to differences in how justice is administered from one community to another.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Set Judge Education Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Ordered to third reading cal.153
- Advanced to third reading cal.190
- Reported
- 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.
Require Judges Be Lawyers
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3801
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI, GALEF, ABINANTI, MAGNARELLI, BUCHWALD, WEPRIN, McDONOUGH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. PALUMBO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the uniform justice court act, in relation to establishing minimum educational requirements of certain town and village justices
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The uniform justice court act is amended by adding a new section 105-a to read as follows: § 105-a. Minimum educational requirements of certain town and village
justices.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any town or village, may by a majority vote of the governing body of such town or village, require that any person who serves as a town or village justice be admitted to practice law in the state. Any change in the requirements for eligibility to serve as town or village justice shall take effect upon commencement of the next judicial term of office following the election after enactment of the local law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06517-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.