New York

Only three of twelve Republicans on the senate judiciary committee voted with their Democratic colleagues to advance New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's recent nominee to the state court of appeals, but they did so "without recommendation." Some critics of CUNY law professor Jenny Rivera question the breadth of her legal experience.

According to a system established in 1977 by constitutional amendment, the governor appoints judges to the New York Court of Appeals—the state's highest court—from names submitted by the Commission on Judicial Nomination. The Commission recently began the process of filling the first of two vacancies on the high court by offering seven names for Governor Cuomo's consideration.

Governor Cuomo’s first appointments to the state’s appellate courts reflect an emphasis on diversity. Of the seven appointments, one judge is Asian, two are black, and one is openly gay. There is diversity in their professional backgrounds as well. The governor appoints judges to the appellate division from nominees submitted by a screening panel.

In addition to the court of appeals vacancy for which the commission on judicial nomination is currently accepting applications, there are several upcoming vacancies on the seven-member court. Two justices will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70, and one justice’s term will end, in 2014. Two more justices reach mandatory retirement in 2015 and 2016.

New York's Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman has created a task force to identify ways to "better control dockets, manage case flow and make more effective use of non-judicial personnel and alternative dispute resolution within the courts."

The approved Pilot Project Regarding Case Management Techniques for Complex Civil Cases took effect in the Southern District of New York on November 1, 2011, and will be in place for an eighteen-month trial period. This article provides background on the project and explores its provisions.

The commission on judicial conduct recommended that a New York City civil court judge be admonished for circulating misleading materials in her 2006 campaign. Admonishment is the least severe punishment for judicial misconduct.

The Third Branch, the blog of the United States Courts, discussed the background and objectives of the pilot project in the Southern District of New York. 

On Election Day in New York, Colby Hamilton writes about the political nature of judicial elections in New York, where Queens Assistant District Attorney Sarah Steiner said, "Judgeships are rewards mostly for loyal party activity over the years."

There are fourteen trial court seats up for election in Manhattan, but candidates are all running unopposed. The five supreme court candidates were nominated at a party convention. Of the nine civil court candidates, only one faced an opponent in the primary.