The New York State Unified Court System provides a broad range of services to promote the rule of law and serve the courts and people of New York State.
Friday, June 19: In recognition of Juneteenth Day, marking the end of slavery, the New York courts are closed today except for criminal arraignments and emergency applications.
Whether it’s a night court arraignment from home, distributing masks and gloves to courthouses or keeping an arraignment part open, Judges, non-judicial employees and Court Officers have stepped up to keep the court system functioning during this unprecedented time.
Witness history at 10 this morning when for the first time ever an all African American bench will sit for arguments in the busiest appellate court in the state, the Appellate Division, Second Department.
Watch live here:
Chief Judge DiFiore just announced an independent review of the court system’s response to issues of institutional racism. It will be led by attorney Jeh Johnson, a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.
New York State Court System to Begin
Return to In-Person Courthouse Operations
Judges and Staff in Counties Meeting Governor’s Benchmarks
to Return to Their Courthouses
New Case Filings Will Be Accepted
The Court of Appeals today announced that the NYS Bar Examination will not be administered on July 28-29, as previously scheduled. It will be rescheduled in the fall.
Monday, July 6: Starting today, all visitors to New York courts will be required to submit to temperature checks and COVID-19 screening questions as the courts gradually resume in-person operations. Masks are mandatory.
In this Native American Heritage Month episode of Diversity Dialogues, we are proud to feature the Hon. Mark Montour, the first Native American ever elected to a state judicial position.
Audio:
Transcript: …ge%20Montour.pdf
NYS COURTS POSTING DAILY TRANSCRIPTS OF THE TRUMP TRIAL
A certified transcript of each day’s trial proceeding will be posted online and publicly available before the end of the next business day.
#NYSCourts
#TrumpTrial
#TransparencyInJustice
#WomensHistoryMonth
On 3/5, history was made at the AppTerm, 1stDept. when an all-female panel (also, all minority) took the bench: Justices Doris Ling-Cohan (Asian Pacific), Lizbeth Gonzalez (Latina) & Carol Edmead (African American)
Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks today designated Hon. Kathie E.
Davidson as Administrative Judge of the Ninth Judicial District, which encompasses Dutchess,
Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.
Happy Pride Month!
Check out our new podcast interview with Charlie Arrowood, a trans individual and senior counsel to the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission.
Audio
Transcript:
Does an elephant have "legal person" rights to challenge confinement in a zoo? New York's highest court will tackle that question today at 2.
Summary:
Watch live:
#HappyTheElephant
Chief Judge DiFiore and Chief Administrative Judge Marks today announced a multi-prong initiative to expedite the handling of felony gun cases in criminal courts throughout the City.
"Hate is not a family value. Hate is not a religious or a spiritual value either, and most assuredly, hate is not a value of our great nation or of our state or of our court system." Presiding Justice Garry
@NYAppDiv3
at
#PrideMonth
kickoff. Podcast at
30 years ago today, Judith S. Kaye became the first female chief judge in NYS history. Check out podcast interview with Marilyn Marcus, Executive Director of
@NYLegal_History
SYSTEMIC RACISM AND MENTAL HEALTH
Virtual webinar Friday, Oct. 29, 10 am-1 pm featuring keynote by Dr. Karinn A. Glover
@drkarinn
Register by Oct. 27 at:
REMINDER;: The court system is seeking Spanish language interpreters. An examination will be held statewide on Friday, Sept. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 10. On-line applications are due Aug. 4.
#interpreters
The court system is offering paid ($18 an hour) internships at locations around the state this summer for high school students and recent grads. Apps due May 24. Details
At today's virtual Law Day Ceremony, Craig Stratton, case manager for the Albany County Recovery Court, recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Court Officer Peter Robinson sang the National Anthem.
Video:
Transcript:
Jury week continues here in NY State. Please listen to our NYCourts Amici Podcast with Dr. Christine Farrow, Commissioner of Jurors for Erie County. Listen here
Please take a reflective moment to marvel at the talent and commitment of Sergeant Jessica Hernandez from Bronx Supreme Court - Criminal Term as she serenades us with a moving rendition of the National Anthem.
Housing Court judges Norma Jennings and Juliet Howard, the first married same sex couple appointed to the same court in New York, are featured in this
#PrideMonth
Diversity Dialogue podcast:
Audio:
Transcript:
Chief Judge Janet DiFiore today State Attorney General Letitia James and State Bar President Henry Greenberg in a virtual Law Day celebration.
To view/listen to the Law Day 2020 ceremony, go to
For a transcript, go to:
Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, Exec Director of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, was recently interviewed on Capitol Pressroom by host David Lombardo about the Commission and it's work.
"It’s a new day, and if you want to see change you have to be a part of it." Dr. Betty Campbell, the first African American female jury commissioner in the state of New York.
Amici Podcast:
Transcript:
As a child, Sgt. Angie Davis-Leveritte was advised: "Don't be angry. Do something about it." She took the advice, and now she’s a NYS Court Officer.
Podcast:
Transcript:
Promoting Diversity in the Courts: Sgt. Bernice Torres.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the NYS Court System is pleased to present this podcast interview with a court officer who will discuss her Puerto Rican roots and how she became a world-class handball player.
Four nonjudicial employees of the AppDiv, First Dept., received Botein Medals Monday from Presiding Justice Rolando T. Acosta. L-to-R: Jessica Negron; Sky Peña-Davis; Dennis Fernandez; Nigel Cameron; Justice Acosta.
#Pride
At 12:30 today, a tribute to Judge Paul G. Feinman, the first openly LGBTQ judge on New York's highest court, will stream on . Please join Chief Judge DiFiore at this special event. Judge Feinman passed this spring.
In this Amici podcast interview, Sean Byrne, Exec. Deputy Director of the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), discusses use disorders and the courts.
Audio:
Transcript: …n%20Byrne%20.pdf
@NYSOASAS
@DrChinazo
After 20 years on the job, Capt. Vinetta Anderton still loves coming to work. Want to join her? There's a great opportunity, but you must sign up by Wed.
Listen to Capt. Anderton (center in photo) explain the job and the benefits.
At noon today, Presiding Justice Garry of the Appellate Division, Third Department, will preside over the court's first ever virtual admission ceremony. Watch live
http://wowza.nycourts.gov/ad3/ad3.php
Available now--a new alert system for court closings, delays and emergencies. To sign up, visit THIS WILL REPLACE TWITTER FOR WEATHER/ EMERGENCY ALERTS.
Drug Court experts Craig Stratton and Debbie Miller were heralded by Chief Judge DiFiore for keeping problem-solving courts vibrant during the pandemic. Listen to their stories on our Amici podcast:
Audio:
Transcript:
For Pride Month, we feature Judges Anthony Cannataro and Justice Joanne Winslow, co-chairs of the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission.
Audio:
Transcript:
@NYCourtsCOA
@NYAPPDIV41
Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks today announced the appointment of Hon. Marguerite A. Grays as Administrative Judge for Civil Matters in the Eleventh Judicial District.
Chief Clerk Justin Barry of the NYC Criminal Court is the 2019 recipient of the National Center for State Courts’ Warren E. Burger Award for Excellence in Court Administration.
Hon. Gerald W. Connolly has been appointed Administrative Judge for the Third Judicial District, succeeding the retiring Justice Thomas A. Breslin effective Nov 2.
The Court System today released a series of videos designed to highlight the extraordinary range of career opportunities within the courts, and to demonstrate our commitment to diversity.
Press release:
The NYS court system has designated 45 judges statewide to prepare for the influx of lawsuits beginning tomorrow, Aug. 14, when a key provision of New York’s Child Victims Act takes effect.
"Farewell to a True Gentleman: Jeff Carucci. Check out this Amici podcast interview with Jeff Carucci, the man who spearheaded the court system's e-filing effort.,
Audio:
Transcript:
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BECOMING A JUDGE!
Free, two-part virtual CLE sponsored by the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission and Nassau Academy of Law. May 27 and June 24. To register, contact academy
@nassaubar
.org
PROMOTING DIVERSITY IN THE COURTS
Vishnu Priya , a native of India, discusses her background, her job and the opportunities available in the NYS Court System for techies.
Given the "very real possibility of a second wave here in New York, we are prepared to make immediate adjustments...on a moment's notice."
View Judge DiFiore's latest update on COVID and the Courts at:
Transcript:
CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES IN NYS: PUBLIC HEARING
The court system will holds it annual public hearing on civil legal services from 1-5 on Monday, Sept. 13. Live stream:
Appellate Division, Second Department, Justice Valerie Brathwaite has been appointed chair of the Court System’s Ethics Commission; Supreme Court Justice Carmen R. Velasquez of Queens County has been named to the Commission. Press release:
At the 2021 Judicial Summer Seminar, retired Judge Betty Weinberg Ellerin spoke of the judicial response to gender bias in the courtroom.
Audio:
Transcript:
Inspiring podcast with Dave, an attorney in the court system who was rendered quadriplegic following a skiing accident when he was 19.
Audio:
Transcript:
The court system has job openings across the state for attorneys, secretaries, typists, clerks, administrators, analysts. There are openings in IT, security...
Please see "Championing Justice in the Courts," a Law Journal essay by the co-chairs of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission and Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission.