Practice Area: Judiciary & Courts

Joseph Zayas,  New York’s First Latino Chief Administrative Judge: ‘We Want To Be More Proactive’

The job of New York’s chief administrative judge is equal parts problem-solver, relationship-builder and collaborative consensus-builder. Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, ensuring that things run smoothly at some 300 courthouses statewide, managing a $3.3 billion annual budget, boosting the morale of a 15,000-member non-judicial workforce still regrouping after the COVID … Continued

Public Hearing Set for October 13 on Judicial Pay

The New York State Commission on Legislative, Executive and Judicial Compensation is holding a public hearing in New York City next week. The hearing will be livestreamed on the commission’s website. Commissioners will hear testimony at 10 a.m. Friday Oct. 13 at the New York City Bar Association’s CLE Center on West 44th Street in … Continued

New York State’s First Black Chief Judge Rowan Wilson Speaks on The Significance of Humility While Formally Being Seated During Investiture

The investiture of Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson on Tuesday morning marked a historic moment as he was formally welcomed to his role before a standing room only crowd inside the Court of Appeals Hall. Gov. Kathy Hochul presided over the investiture and delivered the oath of office. Above: Chief Judge of the Court of … Continued

New York State Bar Association Task Force Sets Ambitious Timetable in Wake of U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action

The New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Advancing Diversity will issue a report in August that will recommend how colleges and universities, corporations and law firms and courts and government entities can preserve diversity in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action at Harvard and the University of … Continued

New York State Bar Association Calls for Eliminating Non-Lawyer Judges, Creating District Courts and Revolutionizing Sentencing

The New York State Bar Association is recommending that the state’s town and village courts be consolidated into district courts and that non-lawyers no longer be allowed to serve as judges. “It is necessary for our legal system to be constantly re-evaluated,” said Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association. “We need … Continued

NYSBA President Calls the Selection of Justice Joseph Zayas as Chief Administrative Judge the Perfect Choice for New York

Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about Chief Judge Rowan Wilson’s selection of Joseph Zayas, associate justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, as chief administrative judge: “Judge Joseph Zayas’ appointment to be New York’s next chief administrative judge is historic. He is the first Latino judge … Continued

President of New York State Bar Association Praises Caitlin Halligan’s Deep Commitment to Justice

Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the state Senate’s confirmation of Caitlin Halligan as associate judge of the state Court of Appeals: “Caitlin Halligan is a gifted attorney with a tremendous breadth and depth of high-level litigation experience. Her ability to analyze issues and come … Continued

New York State Bar Association Begins Review of Candidates for Chief Judge

Members of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee to Review Judicial Nominations are prepared to begin interviewing the nominees for chief judge that the Commission on Judicial Nomination submitted to Gov. Kathy Hochul today. The committee will schedule interviews of each candidate and give ratings of “well qualified, qualified, or not qualified.” President Sherry … Continued