ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation Thursday which plans to reduce case backlog in both family and civil courts. The new law will add 28 judges across the state and 16 judges for New York City.
"Civil and family courts adjudicate some of the most sensitive issues New Yorkers face, and for too long, backlogs and delays have inhibited their ability to function effectively,” Governor Hochul said in a release. “This legislation gives our courts the tools to tackle the case backlog and carry out the fair and efficient justice system New Yorkers deserve.”
The reform should help address a lot of backlogs and delays that happen in family court processes and should speed up proceedings.
“Addressing the needs of families in distress is one of the highest priorities of the New York State Unified Court System...," New York State Court of Appeals Chief Judge Rowan Wilson said. "Creating these new judgeships across the State, together with the augmentation of resources required to serve our families, will greatly enhance our ongoing efforts to improve the lives of children and families and to ensure that individuals appearing in Family Court receive the fair, thoughtful and expeditious delivery of justice that they deserve.”
“I sponsored this bill in the Assembly because I recognize the critical gap we must bridge in our family and civil court system to improve the quality of justice they deliver to those in our communities," said Assemblymember Landon C. Dais. "By adding more judges to the Family Courts system in New York City and State, this legislation will be a landmark improvement for many families."
To read where each judge will be placed across the state, or for more information, visit the NYS website here.
