Res. No. 1617
Resolution calling on the New York State Office of Court Administration to disclose and report to the Governor and the New York State Legislature on the process of selecting judges to preside at trials.
By Council Members James, Comrie, Mealy, Palma and Stewart
Whereas, The New York State Office of Court Administration is the administrative arm of the Unified Court System (UCS) of New York, and is responsible for supervising the administration and operation of New York’s trial courts; and
Whereas, The UCS authors an annual report submitted to the Governor and State Legislature reflecting the activities of New York’s court system, which includes significant data on caseload activity; and
Whereas, According to UCS’s 2006 annual report, 4,546,080 cases were filed in New York’s trial courts; and
Whereas, Judges presiding over these cases in an open court should conduct trials with impartiality and transparency; and
Whereas, A judge’s disposition and interpretation of the law can influence the proceedings of the trial as well as, in criminal cases, the sentencing for defendants found guilty by the court; and
Whereas, There should be a clear and unbiased procedure for selecting judges to preside at trials that is captured in the UCS’s annual report; and
Whereas, The UCS does not currently report the method used for selecting judges to preside at trials, nor does it disclose information regarding selection criteria; and
Whereas, Disclosing the selection process in the UCS’s annual report would not only make the data readily available to the Governor, State Legislature, and public, but would also create much needed transparency in the system; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Office of Court Administration to disclose and report to the Governor and the New York State Legislature on the process of selecting judges to preside at trials.
WJH
8/27/08
LS# 5480