New York State Senate Republican Campaign Committee

The State Constitution defines the organization and jurisdiction of New York State's unified court system, which has grown to become one of the busiest and most complex in the world. The judicial system consists of full-time judges, part-time judges and non-judicial employees.

The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals is the chief judicial officer of the State. The Chief Judge serves as the chairman of the Administrative Board of the Courts, which consists of the Presiding Justices of the four Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court. The Administrative Board, under the leadership of the Chief Judge, establishes statewide administrative standards and policies for the court system.

The structure of the State's court system is based upon the cases each court is empowered to adjudicate. The three main classifications of courts in the State are the Appellate Courts, Trial Courts of Superior Jurisdiction and Trial Courts of Lesser Jurisdiction. The trial courts are those with original jurisdiction. They are empowered to hear the initial case in most court proceedings. The appellate courts hear appeals of the decisions from other tribunals in the state.

The Court of Appeals is the State's highest court. It comprises the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor for 14-year terms from recommendations by the Commission on Judicial Nomination and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Court hears cases on appeal from the other appellate courts and, in some instances, from the courts of original jurisdiction. Its review is generally limited to questions of law.

There are four Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court, one in each of the State's four judicial departments. These departments include all of the eleven judicial districts that divide the State. There are seven appellate justices in both the First and Second Departments, and five in both the Third and Fourth, who are designated by the Governor from among Supreme Court justices to serve five-year terms. In the first two departments, appellate courts hear appeals in criminal and civil cases originating in the Criminal and Civil Courts of the City of New York and in county, district, city, town and village courts. In the Third and Fourth Departments, appeals from city, town and village courts are heard in the appropriate county court.

The Supreme Court, which functions in each of the eleven judicial districts, is a court of unlimited jurisdiction. However, it usually hears only cases outside the authority of other courts, such as civil cases over $10,000. It generally limits its civil jurisdiction to statewide cases while, in New York City and certain other parts of the State, it also adjudicates felony cases.

The Court of Claims, whose judges are appointed by the Governor to serve nine-year terms, is a statewide court whose main jurisdiction is over claims for money damages involving the State and a claimant, or two conflicting claimants. Certain judges serving the Court of Claims also are empowered to adjudicate other civil and criminal matters that would normally come before the Supreme Court.

There are four courts of lesser jurisdiction outside New York City -- District, City, Town and Village Courts -- that handle minor civil and criminal matters.

The complex structure of the State's court system is a reflection of the varied objectives that the Judiciary strives to realize. The Judicial Branch is empowered to: provide a forum for the peaceful, fair and prompt resolution of civil claims, family disputes, criminal charges, juvenile delinquency charges, disputes between citizens and their government and challenges to government actions; determine the legality of wills, adoptions, divorces and other disputed matters; provide legal protection for children, the mentally ill and others entitled to the special protection of the court; regulate the admission of lawyers to the bar and their legal conduct, and review administrative determinations to admonish, censure or remove judges or justices.

The Judicial Branch serves as the enforcement body for the bills that are passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. It is the duty of the court to determine the practical application and to decide the constitutionality of laws that are already in effect. This is often a complex and challenging task, but the court system is organized to best meet the varied legal needs of all the State's citizens.

Sources: New York State Senate, A Guide to New York State's Government (Albany, New York State Senate, 1988)

Photo Source: Senate Office of Communications.

The State Constitution defines the organization and jurisdiction of New York State's unified court system, which has grown to become one of the busiest and most complex in the world. The judicial system approximately consists of full-time judges, part-time judges and non-judicial employees.

The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals is the chief judicial officer of the State. The Chief Judge serves as the chairman of the Administrative Board of the Courts, which consists of the Presiding Justices of the four Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court. The Administrative Board, under the leadership of the Chief Judge, establishes statewide administrative standards and policies for the court system.

The structure of the State's court system is based upon the cases each court is empowered to adjudicate. The three main classifications of courts in the State are the Appellate Courts, Trial Courts of Superior Jurisdiction and Trial Courts of Lesser Jurisdiction. The trial courts are those with original jurisdiction. They are empowered to hear the initial case in most court proceedings. The appellate courts hear appeals of the decisions from other tribunals in the state.

The Court of Appeals is the State's highest court. It comprises the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor for 14-year terms from recommendations by the Commission on Judicial Nomination and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Court hears cases on appeal from the other appellate courts and, in some instances, from the courts of original jurisdiction. Its review is generally limited to questions of law.

There are four Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court, one in each of the State's four judicial departments. These departments include all of the eleven judicial districts that divide the State. There are seven appellate justices in both the First and Second Departments, and five in both the Third and Fourth, who are designated by the Governor from among Supreme Court justices to serve five-year terms. In the first two departments, appellate courts hear appeals in criminal and civil cases originating in the Criminal and Civil Courts of the City of New York and in county, district, city, town and village courts. In the Third and Fourth Departments, appeals from city, town and village courts are heard in the appropriate county court.

The Supreme Court, which functions in each of the eleven judicial districts, is a court of unlimited jurisdiction. However, it usually hears only cases outside the authority of other courts, such as civil cases over $10,000. It generally limits its civil jurisdiction to statewide cases while, in New York City and certain other parts of the State, it also adjudicates felony cases.

The Court of Claims, whose judges are appointed by the Governor to serve nine-year terms, is a statewide court whose main jurisdiction is over claims for money damages involving the State and a claimant, or two conflicting claimants. Certain judges serving the Court of Claims also are empowered to adjudicate other civil and criminal matters that would normally come before the Supreme Court.

There are four courts of lesser jurisdiction outside New York City -- District, City, Town and Village Courts -- that handle minor civil and criminal matters.

The complex structure of the State's court system is a reflection of the varied objectives that the Judiciary strives to realize. The Judicial Branch is empowered to: provide a forum for the peaceful, fair and prompt resolution of civil claims, family disputes, criminal charges, juvenile delinquency charges, disputes between citizens and their government and challenges to government actions; determine the legality of wills, adoptions, divorces and other disputed matters; provide legal protection for children, the mentally ill and others entitled to the special protection of the court; regulate the admission of lawyers to the bar and their legal conduct, and review administrative determinations to admonish, censure or remove judges or justices.

The Judicial Branch serves as the enforcement body for the bills that are passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. It is the duty of the court to determine the practical application and to decide the constitutionality of laws that are already in effect. This is often a complex and challenging task, but the court system is organized to best meet the varied legal needs of all the State's citizens.

Sources: New York State Senate, A Guide to New York State's Government (Albany, New York State Senate, 1988)

Photo Source: Senate Office of Communications.