STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8437
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 16, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to section 5 of article 3, section 1 of article
5, sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,
24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 34, 35 and 36-a of article 6, section 1 of
article 7, sections 5, 7 and 7-a of article 8, section 1 of article 9,
section 13 of article 13, section 5 of article 14 and section 4 of
article 18 of the constitution, in relation to renaming the supreme
court the superior court and the court of appeals the supreme court
1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the closing paragraph
2 of section 5 of article 3 of the constitution be amended to read as
3 follows:
4 An apportionment by the legislature, or other body, shall be subject
5 to review by the [supreme] superior court, at the suit of any citizen,
6 under such reasonable regulations as the legislature may prescribe; and
7 any court before which a cause may be pending involving an apportion-
8 ment, shall give precedence thereto over all other causes and
9 proceedings, and if said court be not in session it shall convene
10 promptly for the disposition of the same. The court shall render its
11 decision within sixty days after a petition is filed. In any judicial
12 proceeding relating to redistricting of congressional or state legisla-
13 tive districts, any law establishing congressional or state legislative
14 districts found to violate the provisions of this article shall be
15 invalid in whole or in part. In the event that a court finds such a
16 violation, the legislature shall have a full and reasonable opportunity
17 to correct the law's legal infirmities.
18 § 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article 5 of
19 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
20 Section 1. The comptroller and attorney-general shall be chosen at the
21 same general election as the governor and hold office for the same term,
22 and shall possess the qualifications provided in section 2 of article
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89092-01-5
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1 IV. The legislature shall provide for filling vacancies in the office of
2 comptroller and of attorney-general. No election of a comptroller or an
3 attorney-general shall be had except at the time of electing a governor.
4 The comptroller shall be required: (1) to audit all vouchers before
5 payment and all official accounts; (2) to audit the accrual and
6 collection of all revenues and receipts; and (3) to prescribe such meth-
7 ods of accounting as are necessary for the performance of the foregoing
8 duties. The payment of any money of the state, or of any money under its
9 control, or the refund of any money paid to the state, except upon audit
10 by the comptroller, shall be void, and may be restrained upon the suit
11 of any taxpayer with the consent of the [supreme] superior court in
12 appellate division on notice to the attorney-general. In such respect
13 the legislature shall define the powers and duties and may also assign
14 to [him or her] them: (1) supervision of the accounts of any political
15 subdivision of the state; and (2) powers and duties pertaining to or
16 connected with the assessment and taxation of real estate, including
17 determination of ratios which the assessed valuation of taxable real
18 property bears to the full valuation thereof, but not including any of
19 those powers and duties reserved to officers of a county, city, town or
20 village by virtue of sections seven and eight of article nine of this
21 constitution. The legislature shall assign to [him or her] them no
22 administrative duties, excepting such as may be incidental to the
23 performance of these functions, any other provision of this constitution
24 to the contrary notwithstanding.
25 § 3. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article 6 of
26 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
27 Section 1. a. There shall be a unified court system for the state. The
28 state-wide courts shall consist of the supreme court [of appeals], the
29 [supreme] superior court including the appellate divisions thereof, the
30 court of claims, the county court, the surrogate's court and the family
31 court, as hereinafter provided. The legislature shall establish in and
32 for the city of New York, as part of the unified court system for the
33 state, a single, city-wide court of civil jurisdiction and a single,
34 city-wide court of criminal jurisdiction, as hereinafter provided, and
35 may upon the request of the mayor and the local legislative body of the
36 city of New York, merge the two courts into one city-wide court of both
37 civil and criminal jurisdiction. The unified court system for the state
38 shall also include the district, town, city and village courts outside
39 the city of New York, as hereinafter provided.
40 b. The supreme court [of appeals], the [supreme] superior court
41 including the appellate divisions thereof, the court of claims, the
42 county court, the surrogate's court, the family court, the courts or
43 court of civil and criminal jurisdiction of the city of New York, and
44 such other courts as the legislature may determine shall be courts of
45 record.
46 c. All processes, warrants and other mandates of the supreme court [of
47 appeals], the [supreme] superior court including the appellate divisions
48 thereof, the court of claims, the county court, the surrogate's court
49 and the family court may be served and executed in any part of the
50 state. All processes, warrants and other mandates of the courts or court
51 of civil and criminal jurisdiction of the city of New York may, subject
52 to such limitation as may be prescribed by the legislature, be served
53 and executed in any part of the state. The legislature may provide that
54 processes, warrants and other mandates of the district court may be
55 served and executed in any part of the state and that processes,
56 warrants and other mandates of town, village and city courts outside the
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1 city of New York may be served and executed in any part of the county in
2 which such courts are located or in any part of any adjoining county.
3 § 4. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 2 of article 6 of
4 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
5 § 2. a. The supreme court [of appeals] is continued. It shall consist
6 of the chief judge and the six elected associate judges now in office,
7 who shall hold their offices until the expiration of their respective
8 terms, and their successors, and such justices of the [supreme] superior
9 court as may be designated for service in said court as hereinafter
10 provided. The official terms of the chief judge and the six associate
11 judges shall be fourteen years.
12 Five members of the court shall constitute a quorum, and the concur-
13 rence of four shall be necessary to a decision; but no more than seven
14 judges shall sit in any case. In case of the temporary absence or
15 inability to act of any judge of the supreme court [of appeals], the
16 court may designate any justice of the [supreme] superior court to serve
17 as associate judge of the court during such absence or inability to act.
18 The court shall have power to appoint and to remove its clerk. The
19 powers and jurisdiction of the court shall not be suspended for want of
20 appointment when the number of judges is sufficient to constitute a
21 quorum.
22 b. Whenever and as often as the supreme court [of appeals] shall
23 certify to the governor that the court is unable, by reason of the accu-
24 mulation of causes pending therein, to hear and dispose of the same with
25 reasonable speed, the governor shall designate such number of justices
26 of the [supreme] superior court as may be so certified to be necessary,
27 but not more than four, to serve as associate judges of the supreme
28 court [of appeals]. The justices so designated shall be relieved, while
29 so serving, from their duties as justices of the [supreme] superior
30 court, and shall serve as associate judges of the supreme court [of
31 appeals] until the court shall certify that the need for the services of
32 any such justices no longer exists, whereupon they shall return to the
33 [supreme] superior court. The governor may fill vacancies among such
34 designated judges. No such justices shall serve as associate judge of
35 the supreme court [of appeals] except while holding the office of
36 justice of the [supreme] superior court. The designation of a justice of
37 the [supreme] superior court as an associate judge of the supreme court
38 [of appeals] shall not be deemed to affect [his or her] their existing
39 office any longer than until the expiration of [his or her] their desig-
40 nation as such associate judge, nor to create a vacancy.
41 c. There shall be a commission on judicial nomination to evaluate the
42 qualifications of candidates for appointment to the supreme court [of
43 appeals] and to prepare a written report and recommend to the governor
44 those persons who by their character, temperament, professional aptitude
45 and experience are well qualified to hold such judicial office. The
46 legislature shall provide by law for the organization and procedure of
47 the judicial nominating commission.
48 d. (1) The commission on judicial nomination shall consist of twelve
49 members of whom four shall be appointed by the governor, four by the
50 chief judge of the supreme court [of appeals], and one each by the
51 speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, the
52 minority leader of the senate, and the minority leader of the assembly.
53 Of the four members appointed by the governor, no more than two shall be
54 enrolled in the same political party, two shall be members of the bar of
55 the state, and two shall not be members of the bar of the state. Of the
56 four members appointed by the chief judge of the supreme court [of
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1 appeals], no more than two shall be enrolled in the same political
2 party, two shall be members of the bar of the state, and two shall not
3 be members of the bar of the state. No member of the commission shall
4 hold or have held any judicial office or hold any elected public office
5 for which [he or she receives] they receive compensation during [his or
6 her] their period of service, except that the governor and the chief
7 judge may each appoint no more than one former judge or justice of the
8 unified court system to such commission. No member of the commission
9 shall hold any office in any political party. No member of the judicial
10 nominating commission shall be eligible for appointment to judicial
11 office in any court of the state during the member's period of service
12 or within one year thereafter.
13 (2) The members first appointed by the governor shall have respective-
14 ly one, two, three and [four year] four-year terms as the governor shall
15 designate. The members first appointed by the chief judge of the supreme
16 court [of appeals] shall have respectively one, two, three and four year
17 terms as the chief judge shall designate. The member first appointed by
18 the temporary president of the senate shall have a one-year term. The
19 member first appointed by the minority leader of the senate shall have a
20 two-year term. The member first appointed by the speaker of the assembly
21 shall have a four-year term. The member first appointed by the minority
22 leader of the assembly shall have a three-year term. Each subsequent
23 appointment shall be for a term of four years.
24 (3) The commission shall designate one of their number to serve as
25 chairperson.
26 (4) The commission shall consider the qualifications of candidates for
27 appointment to the offices of judge and chief judge of the supreme court
28 [of appeals] and, whenever a vacancy in those offices occurs, shall
29 prepare a written report and recommend to the governor persons who are
30 well qualified for those judicial offices.
31 e. The governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the
32 senate, from among those recommended by the judicial nominating commis-
33 sion, a person to fill the office of chief judge or associate judge, as
34 the case may be, whenever a vacancy occurs in the supreme court [of
35 appeals]; provided, however, that no person may be appointed a judge of
36 the supreme court [of appeals] unless such person is a resident of the
37 state and has been admitted to the practice of law in this state for at
38 least ten years. The governor shall transmit to the senate the written
39 report of the commission on judicial nomination relating to the nominee.
40 f. When a vacancy occurs in the office of chief judge or associate
41 judge of the supreme court [of appeals] and the senate is not in session
42 to give its advice and consent to an appointment to fill the vacancy,
43 the governor shall fill the vacancy by interim appointment upon the
44 recommendation of a commission on judicial nomination as provided in
45 this section. An interim appointment shall continue until the senate
46 shall pass upon the governor's selection. If the senate confirms an
47 appointment, the judge shall serve a term as provided in subdivision a
48 of this section commencing from the date of [his or her] such interim
49 appointment. If the senate rejects an appointment, a vacancy in the
50 office shall occur sixty days after such rejection. If an interim
51 appointment to the supreme court [of appeals] be made from among the
52 justices of the [supreme] superior court or the appellate divisions
53 thereof, that appointment shall not affect the justice's existing
54 office, nor create a vacancy in the [supreme] superior court, or the
55 appellate division thereof, unless such appointment is confirmed by the
56 senate and the appointee shall assume such office. If an interim
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1 appointment of chief judge of the supreme court [of appeals] be made
2 from among the associate judges, an interim appointment of associate
3 judge shall be made in like manner; in such case, the appointment as
4 chief judge shall not affect the existing office of associate judge,
5 unless such appointment as chief judge is confirmed by the senate and
6 the appointee shall assume such office.
7 g. The provisions of subdivisions c, d, e and f of this section shall
8 not apply to temporary designations or assignments of judges or
9 justices.
10 § 5. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 3 of article 6 of
11 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
12 § 3. a. The jurisdiction of the supreme court [of appeals] shall be
13 limited to the review of questions of law except where the judgment is
14 of death, or where the appellate division, on reversing or modifying a
15 final or interlocutory judgment in an action or a final or interlocutory
16 order in a special proceeding, finds new facts and a final judgment or a
17 final order pursuant thereto is entered; but the right to appeal shall
18 not depend upon the amount involved.
19 b. Appeals to the supreme court [of appeals] may be taken in the
20 classes of cases hereafter enumerated in this section;
21 In criminal cases, directly from a court of original jurisdiction
22 where the judgment is of death, and in other criminal cases from an
23 appellate division or otherwise as the legislature may from time to time
24 provide.
25 In civil cases and proceedings as follows:
26 (1) As of right, from a judgment or order entered upon the decision of
27 an appellate division of the [supreme] superior court which finally
28 determines an action or special proceeding wherein is directly involved
29 the construction of the constitution of the state or of the United
30 States, or where one or more of the justices of the appellate division
31 dissents from the decision of the court, or where the judgment or order
32 is one of reversal or modification.
33 (2) As of right, from a judgment or order of a court of record of
34 original jurisdiction which finally determines an action or special
35 proceeding where the only question involved on the appeal is the validi-
36 ty of a statutory provision of the state or of the United States under
37 the constitution of the state or of the United States; and on any such
38 appeal only the constitutional question shall be considered and deter-
39 mined by the court.
40 (3) As of right, from an order of the appellate division granting a
41 new trial in an action or a new hearing in a special proceeding where
42 the appellant stipulates that, upon affirmance, judgment absolute or
43 final order shall be rendered against [him or her] them.
44 (4) From a determination of the appellate division of the [supreme]
45 superior court in any department, other than a judgment or order which
46 finally determines an action or special proceeding, where the appellate
47 division allows the same and certifies that one or more questions of law
48 have arisen which, in its opinion, ought to be reviewed by the supreme
49 court [of appeals], but in such case the appeal shall bring up for
50 review only the question or questions so certified; and the supreme
51 court [of appeals] shall certify to the appellate division its determi-
52 nation upon such question or questions.
53 (5) From an order of the appellate division of the [supreme] superior
54 court in any department, in a proceeding instituted by or against one or
55 more public officers or a board, commission or other body of public
56 officers or a court or tribunal, other than an order which finally
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1 determines such proceeding, where the supreme court [of appeals] shall
2 allow the same upon the ground that, in its opinion, a question of law
3 is involved which ought to be reviewed by it, and without regard to the
4 availability of appeal by stipulation for final order absolute.
5 (6) From a judgment or order entered upon the decision of an appellate
6 division of the [supreme] superior court which finally determines an
7 action or special proceeding but which is not appealable under paragraph
8 (1) of this subdivision where the appellate division or the supreme
9 court [of appeals] shall certify that in its opinion a question of law
10 is involved which ought to be reviewed by the supreme court [of
11 appeals]. Such an appeal may be allowed upon application (a) to the
12 appellate division, and in case of refusal, to the supreme court [of
13 appeals], or (b) directly to the supreme court [of appeals]. Such an
14 appeal shall be allowed when required in the interest of substantial
15 justice.
16 (7) No appeal shall be taken to the supreme court [of appeals] from a
17 judgment or order entered upon the decision of an appellate division of
18 the [supreme] superior court in any civil case or proceeding where the
19 appeal to the appellate division was from a judgment or order entered in
20 an appeal from another court, including an appellate or special term of
21 the [supreme] superior court, unless the construction of the constitu-
22 tion of the state or of the United States is directly involved therein,
23 or unless the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court shall
24 certify that in its opinion a question of law is involved which ought to
25 be reviewed by the supreme court [of appeals].
26 (8) The legislature may abolish an appeal to the supreme court [of
27 appeals] as of right in any or all of the cases or classes of cases
28 specified in paragraph (1) of this subdivision wherein no question
29 involving the construction of the constitution of the state or of the
30 United States is directly involved, provided, however, that appeals in
31 any such case or class of cases shall thereupon be governed by paragraph
32 (6) of this subdivision.
33 (9) The supreme court [of appeals] shall adopt and from time to time
34 may amend a rule to permit the court to answer questions of New York law
35 certified to it by the Supreme Court of the United States, a court of
36 appeals of the United States or an appellate court of last resort of
37 another state, which may be determinative of the cause then pending in
38 the certifying court and which in the opinion of the certifying court
39 are not controlled by precedent in the decisions of the courts of New
40 York.
41 § 6. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions b, c, h, j and
42 k of section 4 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as
43 follows:
44 b. The appellate divisions of the [supreme] superior court are contin-
45 ued, and shall consist of seven justices of the [supreme] superior court
46 in each of the first and second departments, and five justices in each
47 of the other departments. In each appellate division, four justices
48 shall constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of three shall be neces-
49 sary to a decision. No more than five justices shall sit in any case.
50 c. The governor shall designate the presiding justice of each appel-
51 late division, who shall act as such during [his or her] their term of
52 office and shall be a resident of the department. The other justices of
53 the appellate divisions shall be designated by the governor, from all
54 the justices elected to the [supreme] superior court, for terms of five
55 years or the unexpired portions of their respective terms of office, if
56 less than five years.
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1 h. A justice of the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court
2 in any department may be temporarily designated by the presiding justice
3 of [his or her] their department to the appellate division in another
4 judicial department upon agreement by the presiding justices of the
5 appellate division of the departments concerned.
6 j. No justice of the appellate division shall, within the department
7 to which [he or she] they may be designated to perform the duties of an
8 appellate justice, exercise any of the powers of a justice of the
9 [supreme] superior court, other than those of a justice out of court,
10 and those pertaining to the appellate division, except that the justice
11 may decide causes or proceedings theretofore submitted, or hear and
12 decide motions submitted by consent of counsel, but any such justice,
13 when not actually engaged in performing the duties of such appellate
14 justice in the department to which [he or she is] they are designated,
15 may hold any term of the [supreme] superior court and exercise any of
16 the powers of a justice of the [supreme] superior court in any judicial
17 district in any other department of the state.
18 k. The appellate divisions of the [supreme] superior court shall have
19 all the jurisdiction possessed by them on the effective date of this
20 article and such additional jurisdiction as may be prescribed by law,
21 provided, however, that the right to appeal to the appellate divisions
22 from a judgment or order which does not finally determine an action or
23 special proceeding may be limited or conditioned by law.
24 § 7. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions c, d and e of
25 section 6 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as
26 follows:
27 c. The justices of the [supreme] superior court shall be chosen by the
28 electors of the judicial district in which they are to serve. The terms
29 of justices of the [supreme] superior court shall be fourteen years from
30 and including the first day of January next after their election.
31 d. The [supreme] superior court is continued. It shall consist of the
32 number of justices of the [supreme] superior court including the
33 justices designated to the appellate divisions of the [supreme] superior
34 court, judges of the county court of the counties of Bronx, Kings,
35 Queens and Richmond and judges of the court of general sessions of the
36 county of New York authorized by law on the thirty-first day of August
37 next after the approval and ratification of this amendment by the
38 people, all of whom shall be justices of the [supreme] superior court
39 for the remainder of their terms. The legislature may increase the
40 number of justices of the [supreme] superior court in any judicial
41 district, except that the number in any district shall not be increased
42 to exceed one justice for fifty thousand, or fraction over thirty thou-
43 sand, of the population thereof as shown by the last federal census or
44 state enumeration. The legislature may decrease the number of justices
45 of the [supreme] superior court in any judicial district, except that
46 the number in any district shall not be less than the number of justices
47 of the [supreme] superior court authorized by law on the effective date
48 of this article.
49 e. The clerks of the several counties shall be clerks of the [supreme]
50 superior court, with such powers and duties as shall be prescribed by
51 law.
52 § 8. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 7 of article 6 of
53 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
54 § 7. a. The [supreme] superior court shall have general original
55 jurisdiction in law and equity and the appellate jurisdiction herein
56 provided. In the city of New York, it shall have exclusive jurisdiction
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1 over crimes prosecuted by indictment, provided, however, that the legis-
2 lature may grant to the city-wide court of criminal jurisdiction of the
3 city of New York jurisdiction over misdemeanors prosecuted by indictment
4 and to the family court in the city of New York jurisdiction over crimes
5 and offenses by or against minors or between spouses or between parent
6 and child or between members of the same family or household.
7 b. If the legislature shall create new classes of actions and
8 proceedings, the [supreme] superior court shall have jurisdiction over
9 such classes of actions and proceedings, but the legislature may provide
10 that another court or other courts shall also have jurisdiction and that
11 actions and proceedings of such classes may be originated in such other
12 court or courts.
13 § 9. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 8 of article 6 of
14 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
15 § 8. a. The appellate division of the [supreme] superior court in each
16 judicial department may establish an appellate term in and for such
17 department or in and for a judicial district or districts or in and for
18 a county or counties within such department. Such an appellate term
19 shall be composed of not less than three nor more than five justices of
20 the [supreme] superior court who shall be designated from time to time
21 by the chief administrator of the courts with the approval of the
22 presiding justice of the appropriate appellate division, and who shall
23 be residents of the department or of the judicial district or districts
24 as the case may be and the chief administrator of the courts shall
25 designate the place or places where such appellate terms shall be held.
26 b. Any such appellate term may be discontinued and re-established as
27 the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court in each depart-
28 ment shall determine from time to time and any designation to service
29 therein may be revoked by the chief administrator of the courts with the
30 approval of the presiding justice of the appropriate appellate division.
31 c. In each appellate term no more than three justices assigned thereto
32 shall sit in any action or proceeding. Two of such justices shall
33 constitute a quorum and the concurrence of two shall be necessary to a
34 decision.
35 d. If so directed by the appellate division of the [supreme] superior
36 court establishing an appellate term, an appellate term shall have
37 jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals now or hereafter authorized
38 by law to be taken to the [supreme] superior court or to the appellate
39 division other than appeals from the [supreme] superior court, a surro-
40 gate's court, the family court or appeals in criminal cases prosecuted
41 by indictment or by information as provided in section six of article
42 one.
43 e. As may be provided by law, an appellate term shall have jurisdic-
44 tion to hear and determine appeals from the district court or a town,
45 village or city court outside the city of New York.
46 § 10. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 11 of article 6 of
47 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
48 § 11. a. The county court shall have jurisdiction over the following
49 classes of actions and proceedings which shall be originated in such
50 county court in the manner provided by law, except that actions and
51 proceedings within the jurisdiction of the district court or a town,
52 village or city court outside the city of New York may, as provided by
53 law, be originated therein: actions and proceedings for the recovery of
54 money, actions and proceedings for the recovery of chattels and actions
55 and proceedings for the foreclosure of mechanics liens and liens on
56 personal property where the amount sought to be recovered or the value
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1 of the property does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars exclusive
2 of interest and costs; over all crimes and other violations of law; over
3 summary proceedings to recover possession of real property and to remove
4 tenants therefrom; and over such other actions and proceedings, not
5 within the exclusive jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court, as
6 may be provided by law.
7 b. The county court shall exercise such equity jurisdiction as may be
8 provided by law and its jurisdiction to enter judgment upon a counter-
9 claim for the recovery of money only shall be unlimited.
10 c. The county court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine all
11 appeals arising in the county in the following actions and proceedings:
12 as of right, from a judgment or order of the district court or a town,
13 village or city court which finally determines an action or proceeding
14 and, as may be provided by law, from a judgment or order of any such
15 court which does not finally determine an action or proceeding. The
16 legislature may provide, in accordance with the provisions of section
17 eight of this article, that any or all of such appeals be taken to an
18 appellate term of the [supreme] superior court instead of the county
19 court.
20 d. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit or impair the
21 jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court as set forth in section
22 seven of this article.
23 § 11. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions d and f of
24 section 12 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as
25 follows:
26 d. The surrogate's court shall have jurisdiction over all actions and
27 proceedings relating to the affairs of decedents, probate of wills,
28 administration of estates and actions and proceedings arising thereunder
29 or pertaining thereto, guardianship of the property of minors, and such
30 other actions and proceedings, not within the exclusive jurisdiction of
31 the [supreme] superior court, as may be provided by law.
32 f. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit or impair the
33 jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court as set forth in section
34 seven of this article.
35 § 12. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions c and d of
36 section 13 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as
37 follows:
38 c. The family court shall also have jurisdiction to determine, with
39 the same powers possessed by the [supreme] superior court, the following
40 matters when referred to the family court from the [supreme] superior
41 court: habeas corpus proceedings for the determination of the custody of
42 minors; and in actions and proceedings for marital separation, divorce,
43 annulment of marriage and dissolution of marriage, applications to fix
44 temporary or permanent support and custody, or applications to enforce
45 judgments and orders of support and of custody, or applications to modi-
46 fy judgments and orders of support and of custody which may be granted
47 only upon the showing to the family court that there has been a subse-
48 quent change of circumstances and that modification is required.
49 d. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit or impair the
50 jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court as set forth in section
51 seven of this article.
52 § 13. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions b, c and d of
53 section 15 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as
54 follows:
55 b. The court of city-wide civil jurisdiction of the city of New York
56 shall have jurisdiction over the following classes of actions and
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1 proceedings which shall be originated in such court in the manner
2 provided by law: actions and proceedings for the recovery of money,
3 actions and proceedings for the recovery of chattels and actions and
4 proceedings for the foreclosure of mechanics liens and liens on personal
5 property where the amount sought to be recovered or the value of the
6 property does not exceed fifty thousand dollars exclusive of interest
7 and costs, or such smaller amount as may be fixed by law; over summary
8 proceedings to recover possession of real property and to remove tenants
9 therefrom and over such other actions and proceedings, not within the
10 exclusive jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court, as may be
11 provided by law. The court of city-wide civil jurisdiction shall further
12 exercise such equity jurisdiction as may be provided by law and its
13 jurisdiction to enter judgment upon a counterclaim for the recovery of
14 money only shall be unlimited.
15 c. The court of city-wide criminal jurisdiction of the city of New
16 York shall have jurisdiction over crimes and other violations of law,
17 other than those prosecuted by indictment, provided, however, that the
18 legislature may grant to said court jurisdiction over misdemeanors pros-
19 ecuted by indictment; and over such other actions and proceedings, not
20 within the exclusive jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court, as
21 may be provided by law.
22 d. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit or impair the
23 jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court as set forth in section
24 seven of this article.
25 § 14. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 19 of article 6 of
26 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
27 § 19. a. The [supreme] superior court may transfer any action or
28 proceeding, except one over which it shall have exclusive jurisdiction
29 which does not depend upon the monetary amount sought, to any other
30 court having jurisdiction of the subject matter within the judicial
31 department provided that such other court has jurisdiction over the
32 classes of persons named as parties. As may be provided by law, the
33 [supreme] superior court may transfer to itself any action or proceeding
34 originated or pending in another court within the judicial department
35 other than the court of claims upon a finding that such a transfer will
36 promote the administration of justice.
37 b. The county court shall transfer to the [supreme] superior court or
38 surrogate's court or family court any action or proceeding which has not
39 been transferred to it from the [supreme] superior court or surrogate's
40 court or family court and over which the county court has no jurisdic-
41 tion. The county court may transfer any action or proceeding, except a
42 criminal action or proceeding involving a felony prosecuted by indict-
43 ment or an action or proceeding required by this article to be dealt
44 with in the surrogate's court or family court, to any court, other than
45 the [supreme] superior court, having jurisdiction of the subject matter
46 within the county provided that such other court has jurisdiction over
47 the classes of persons named as parties.
48 c. As may be provided by law, the [supreme] superior court or the
49 county court may transfer to the county court any action or proceeding
50 originated or pending in the district court or a town, village or city
51 court outside the city of New York upon a finding that such a transfer
52 will promote the administration of justice.
53 d. The surrogate's court shall transfer to the [supreme] superior
54 court or the county court or the family court or the courts for the city
55 of New York established pursuant to section fifteen of this article any
A. 8437 11
1 action or proceeding which has not been transferred to it from any of
2 said courts and over which the surrogate's court has no jurisdiction.
3 e. The family court shall transfer to the [supreme] superior court or
4 the surrogate's court or the county court or the courts for the city of
5 New York established pursuant to section fifteen of this article any
6 action or proceeding which has not been transferred to it from any of
7 said courts and over which the family court has no jurisdiction.
8 f. The courts for the city of New York established pursuant to section
9 fifteen of this article shall transfer to the [supreme] superior court
10 or the surrogate's court or the family court any action or proceeding
11 which has not been transferred to them from any of said courts and over
12 which the said courts for the city of New York have no jurisdiction.
13 g. As may be provided by law, the [supreme] superior court shall
14 transfer any action or proceeding to any other court having jurisdiction
15 of the subject matter in any other judicial district or county provided
16 that such other court has jurisdiction over the classes of persons named
17 as parties.
18 h. As may be provided by law, the county court, the surrogate's court,
19 the family court and the courts for the city of New York established
20 pursuant to section fifteen of this article may transfer any action or
21 proceeding, other than one which has previously been transferred to it,
22 to any other court, except the [supreme] superior court, having juris-
23 diction of the subject matter in any other judicial district or county
24 provided that such other court has jurisdiction over the classes of
25 persons named as parties.
26 i. As may be provided by law, the district court or a town, village or
27 city court outside the city of New York may transfer any action or
28 proceeding, other than one which has previously been transferred to it,
29 to any court, other than the county court or the surrogate's court or
30 the family court or the [supreme] superior court, having jurisdiction of
31 the subject matter in the same or an adjoining county provided that such
32 other court has jurisdiction over the classes of persons named as
33 parties.
34 j. Each court shall exercise jurisdiction over any action or proceed-
35 ing transferred to it pursuant to this section.
36 k. The legislature may provide that the verdict or judgment in actions
37 and proceedings so transferred shall not be subject to the limitation of
38 monetary jurisdiction of the court to which the actions and proceedings
39 are transferred if that limitation be lower than that of the court in
40 which the actions and proceedings were originated.
41 § 15. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 20 of article 6 of
42 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
43 § 20. a. No person, other than one who holds such office at the effec-
44 tive date of this article, may assume the office of judge of the supreme
45 court [of appeals], justice of the [supreme] superior court, or judge of
46 the court of claims unless [he or she has] they have been admitted to
47 practice law in this state at least ten years. No person, other than one
48 who holds such office at the effective date of this article, may assume
49 the office of judge of the county court, surrogate's court, family
50 court, a court for the city of New York established pursuant to section
51 fifteen of this article, district court or city court outside the city
52 of New York unless [he or she has] they have been admitted to practice
53 law in this state at least five years or such greater number of years as
54 the legislature may determine.
55 b. A judge of the supreme court [of appeals], justice of the [supreme]
56 superior court, judge of the court of claims, judge of a county court,
A. 8437 12
1 judge of the surrogate's court, judge of the family court or judge of a
2 court for the city of New York established pursuant to section fifteen
3 of this article who is elected or appointed after the effective date of
4 this article may not:
5 (1) hold any other public office or trust except an office in relation
6 to the administration of the courts, member of a constitutional conven-
7 tion or member of the armed forces of the United States or of the state
8 of New York in which latter event the legislature may enact such legis-
9 lation as it deems appropriate to provide for a temporary judge or
10 justice to serve during the period of the absence of such judge or
11 justice in the armed forces;
12 (2) be eligible to be a candidate for any public office other than
13 judicial office or member of a constitutional convention, unless [he or
14 she resigns] they resign from judicial office; in the event a judge or
15 justice does not so resign from judicial office within ten days after
16 [his or her] their acceptance of the nomination of such other office,
17 [his or her] their judicial office shall become vacant and the vacancy
18 shall be filled in the manner provided in this article;
19 (3) hold any office or assume the duties or exercise the powers of any
20 office of any political organization or be a member of any governing or
21 executive agency thereof;
22 (4) engage in the practice of law, act as an arbitrator, referee or
23 compensated mediator in any action or proceeding or matter or engage in
24 the conduct of any other profession or business which interferes with
25 the performance of [his or her] their judicial duties.
26 Judges and justices of the courts specified in this subdivision shall
27 also be subject to such rules of conduct as may be promulgated by the
28 chief administrator of the courts with the approval of the supreme court
29 [of appeals].
30 c. Qualifications for and restrictions upon the judges of district,
31 town, village or city courts outside the city of New York, other than
32 such qualifications and restrictions specifically set forth in subdivi-
33 sion a of this section, shall be prescribed by the legislature,
34 provided, however, that the legislature shall require a course of train-
35 ing and education to be completed by justices of town and village courts
36 selected after the effective date of this article who have not been
37 admitted to practice law in this state. Judges of such courts shall also
38 be subject to such rules of conduct not inconsistent with laws as may be
39 promulgated by the chief administrator of the courts with the approval
40 of the supreme court [of appeals].
41 § 16. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivision a of section
42 21 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
43 a. When a vacancy shall occur, otherwise than by expiration of term,
44 in the office of justice of the [supreme] superior court, of judge of
45 the county court, of judge of the surrogate's court or judge of the
46 family court outside the city of New York, it shall be filled for a full
47 term at the next general election held not less than three months after
48 such vacancy occurs and, until the vacancy shall be so filled, the
49 governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate, if the senate
50 shall be in session, or, if the senate not be in session, the governor
51 may fill such vacancy by an appointment which shall continue until and
52 including the last day of December next after the election at which the
53 vacancy shall be filled.
54 § 17. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 22 of article 6 of
55 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
A. 8437 13
1 § 22. a. There shall be a commission on judicial conduct. The commis-
2 sion on judicial conduct shall receive, initiate, investigate and hear
3 complaints with respect to the conduct, qualifications, fitness to
4 perform or performance of official duties of any judge or justice of the
5 unified court system, in the manner provided by law; and, in accordance
6 with subdivision d of this section, may determine that a judge or
7 justice be admonished, censured or removed from office for cause,
8 including, but not limited to, misconduct in office, persistent failure
9 to perform [his or her] their duties, habitual intemperance, and
10 conduct, on or off the bench, prejudicial to the administration of
11 justice, or that a judge or justice be retired for mental or physical
12 disability preventing the proper performance of [his or her] their judi-
13 cial duties. The commission shall transmit [an] any such determination
14 to the chief judge of the supreme court [of appeals] who shall cause
15 written notice of such determination to be given to the judge or justice
16 involved. Such judge or justice may either accept the commission's
17 determination or make written request to the chief judge, within thirty
18 days after receipt of such notice, for a review of such determination by
19 the supreme court [of appeals].
20 b. (1) The commission on judicial conduct shall consist of eleven
21 members, of whom four shall be appointed by the governor, one by the
22 temporary president of the senate, one by the minority leader of the
23 senate, one by the speaker of the assembly, one by the minority leader
24 of the assembly and three by the chief judge of the supreme court [of
25 appeals]. Of the members appointed by the governor one person shall be a
26 member of the bar of the state but not a judge or justice, two shall not
27 be members of the bar, justices or judges or retired justices or judges
28 of the unified court system, and one shall be a judge or justice of the
29 unified court system. Of the members appointed by the chief judge one
30 person shall be a justice of the appellate division of the [supreme]
31 superior court and two shall be judges or justices of a court or courts
32 other than the supreme court [of appeals] or appellate divisions. None
33 of the persons to be appointed by the legislative leaders shall be
34 justices or judges or retired justices or judges.
35 (2) The persons first appointed by the governor shall have respective-
36 ly one, two, three, and four-year terms as the governor shall designate.
37 The persons first appointed by the chief judge of the supreme court [of
38 appeals] shall have respectively two, three, and four-year terms as the
39 governor shall designate. The person first appointed by the temporary
40 president of the senate shall have a one-year term. The person first
41 appointed by the minority leader of the senate shall have a two-year
42 term. The person first appointed by the speaker of the assembly shall
43 have a four-year term. The person first appointed by the minority leader
44 of the assembly shall have a three-year term. Each member of the commis-
45 sion shall be appointed thereafter for a term of four years. Commission
46 membership of a judge or justice appointed by the governor or the chief
47 judge shall terminate if such member ceases to hold the judicial posi-
48 tion which qualified [him or her] them for such appointment. Membership
49 shall also terminate if a member attains a position which would have
50 rendered [him or her] them ineligible for appointment at the time of
51 appointment. A vacancy shall be filled by the appointing officer for the
52 remainder of the term.
53 c. The organization and procedure of the commission on judicial
54 conduct shall be as provided by law. The commission on judicial conduct
55 may establish its own rules and procedures not inconsistent with law.
56 Unless the legislature shall provide otherwise, the commission shall be
A. 8437 14
1 empowered to designate one of its members or any other person as a
2 referee to hear and report concerning any matter before the commission.
3 d. In reviewing a determination of the commission on judicial conduct,
4 the supreme court [of appeals] may admonish, censure, remove or retire,
5 for the reasons set forth in subdivision a of this section, any judge of
6 the unified court system. In reviewing a determination of the commission
7 on judicial conduct, the supreme court [of appeals] shall review the
8 commission's findings of fact and conclusions of law on the record of
9 the proceedings upon which the commission's determination was based. The
10 supreme court [of appeals] may impose a less or more severe sanction
11 prescribed by this section than the one determined by the commission, or
12 impose no sanction.
13 e. The supreme court [of appeals] may suspend a judge or justice from
14 exercising the powers of [his or her] their office while there is pend-
15 ing a determination by the commission on judicial conduct for [his or
16 her] their removal or retirement, or while the judge or justice is
17 charged in this state with a felony by an indictment or an information
18 filed pursuant to section six of article one. The suspension shall
19 continue upon conviction and, if the conviction becomes final, the judge
20 or justice shall be removed from office. The suspension shall be termi-
21 nated upon reversal of the conviction and dismissal of the accusatory
22 instrument. Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the commission on
23 judicial conduct from determining that a judge or justice be admonished,
24 censured, removed, or retired pursuant to subdivision a of this section.
25 f. Upon the recommendation of the commission on judicial conduct or on
26 its own motion, the supreme court [of appeals] may suspend a judge or
27 justice from office when [he or she is] they are charged with a crime
28 punishable as a felony under the laws of this state, or any other crime
29 which involves moral turpitude. The suspension shall continue upon
30 conviction and, if the conviction becomes final, the judge or justice
31 shall be removed from office. The suspension shall be terminated upon
32 reversal of the conviction and dismissal of the accusatory instrument.
33 Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the commission on judicial
34 conduct from determining that a judge or justice be admonished,
35 censured, removed, or retired pursuant to subdivision a of this section.
36 g. A judge or justice who is suspended from office by the supreme
37 court [of appeals] shall receive [his or her] their judicial salary
38 during such period of suspension, unless the court directs otherwise. If
39 the court has so directed and such suspension is thereafter terminated,
40 the court may direct that the judge or justice shall be paid [his or
41 her] their salary for such period of suspension.
42 h. A judge or justice retired by the supreme court [of appeals] shall
43 be considered to have retired voluntarily. A judge or justice removed by
44 the supreme court [of appeals] shall be ineligible to hold other judi-
45 cial office.
46 i. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the legisla-
47 ture may provide by law for review of determinations of the commission
48 on judicial conduct with respect to justices of town and village courts
49 by an appellate division of the [supreme] superior court. In such event,
50 all references in this section to the supreme court [of appeals] and the
51 chief judge thereof shall be deemed references to an appellate division
52 and the presiding justice thereof, respectively.
53 j. If a court on the judiciary shall have been convened before the
54 effective date of this section and the proceeding shall not be concluded
55 by that date, the court on the judiciary shall have continuing jurisdic-
56 tion beyond the effective date of this section to conclude the proceed-
A. 8437 15
1 ing. All matters pending before the former commission on judicial
2 conduct on the effective date of this section shall be disposed of in
3 such manner as shall be provided by law.
4 § 18. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions a and b of
5 section 23 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as
6 follows:
7 a. Judges of the supreme court [of appeals] and justices of the
8 [supreme] superior court may be removed by concurrent resolution of both
9 houses of the legislature, if two-thirds of all the members elected to
10 each house concur therein.
11 b. Judges of the court of claims, the county court, the surrogate's
12 court, the family court, the courts for the city of New York established
13 pursuant to section fifteen of this article, the district court and such
14 other courts as the legislature may determine may be removed by the
15 senate, on the recommendation of the governor, if two-thirds of all the
16 members elected to the senate concur therein.
17 § 19. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 24 of article 6 of
18 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
19 § 24. The assembly shall have the power of impeachment by a vote of a
20 majority of all the members elected thereto. The court for the trial of
21 impeachments shall be composed of the president of the senate, the
22 senators, or the major part of them, and the judges of the supreme court
23 [of appeals], or the major part of them. On the trial of an impeachment
24 against the governor or lieutenant-governor, neither the lieutenant-gov-
25 ernor nor the temporary president of the senate shall act as a member of
26 the court. No judicial officer shall exercise [his or her] their office
27 after articles of impeachment against [him or her] them shall have been
28 preferred to the senate, until [he or she] they shall have been acquit-
29 ted. Before the trial of an impeachment, the members of the court shall
30 take an oath or affirmation truly and impartially to try the impeachment
31 according to the evidence, and no person shall be convicted without the
32 concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of
33 impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, or
34 removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any public
35 office of honor, trust, or profit under this state; but the party
36 impeached shall be liable to indictment and punishment according to law.
37 § 20. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions a and b of
38 section 25 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as
39 follows:
40 a. The compensation of a judge of the supreme court [of appeals], a
41 justice of the [supreme] superior court, a judge of the court of claims,
42 a judge of the county court, a judge of the surrogate's court, a judge
43 of the family court, a judge of a court for the city of New York estab-
44 lished pursuant to section fifteen of this article, a judge of the
45 district court or of a retired judge or justice shall be established by
46 law and shall not be diminished during the term of office for which [he
47 or she was] they were elected or appointed. Any judge or justice of a
48 court abolished by section thirty-five of this article, who pursuant to
49 that section becomes a judge or justice of a court established or
50 continued by this article, shall receive without interruption or diminu-
51 tion for the remainder of the term for which [he or she was] they were
52 elected or appointed to the abolished court the compensation [he or she
53 had] they have been receiving upon the effective date of this article
54 together with any additional compensation that may be prescribed by law.
55 b. Each judge of the supreme court [of appeals], justice of the
56 [supreme] superior court, judge of the court of claims, judge of the
A. 8437 16
1 county court, judge of the surrogate's court, judge of the family court,
2 judge of a court for the city of New York established pursuant to
3 section fifteen of this article and judge of the district court shall
4 retire on the last day of December in the year in which [he or she
5 reaches] they reach the age of seventy. Each former judge of the supreme
6 court [of appeals] and justice of the [supreme] superior court may ther-
7 eafter perform the duties of a justice of the [supreme] superior court,
8 with power to hear and determine actions and proceedings, provided,
9 however, that it shall be certificated in the manner provided by law
10 that the services of such judge or justice are necessary to expedite the
11 business of the court and that [he or she is] they are mentally and
12 physically able and competent to perform the full duties of such office.
13 Any such certification shall be valid for a term of two years and may be
14 extended as provided by law for additional terms of two years. A retired
15 judge or justice shall serve no longer than until the last day of Decem-
16 ber in the year in which [he or she reaches] they reach the age of
17 seventy-six. A retired judge or justice shall be subject to assignment
18 by the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court of the judi-
19 cial department of [his or her] their residence. Any retired justice of
20 the [supreme] superior court who had been designated to and served as a
21 justice of any appellate division immediately preceding [his or her]
22 their reaching the age of seventy shall be eligible for designation by
23 the governor as a temporary or additional justice of the appellate divi-
24 sion. A retired judge or justice shall not be counted in determining the
25 number of justices in a judicial district for purposes of subdivision d
26 of section six of this article.
27 § 21. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions a, b, c, d,
28 e, f and g of section 26 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to
29 read as follows:
30 a. A justice of the [supreme] superior court may perform the duties of
31 office or hold court in any county and may be temporarily assigned to
32 the [supreme] superior court in any judicial district or to the court of
33 claims. A justice of the [supreme] superior court in the city of New
34 York may be temporarily assigned to the family court in the city of New
35 York or to the surrogate's court in any county within the city of New
36 York when required to dispose of the business of such court.
37 b. A judge of the court of claims may perform the duties of office or
38 hold court in any county and may be temporarily assigned to the
39 [supreme] superior court in any judicial district.
40 c. A judge of the county court may perform the duties of office or
41 hold court in any county and may be temporarily assigned to the
42 [supreme] superior court in the judicial department of [his or her]
43 their residence or to the county court or the family court in any county
44 or to the surrogate's court in any county outside the city of New York
45 or to a court for the city of New York established pursuant to section
46 fifteen of this article.
47 d. A judge of the surrogate's court in any county within the city of
48 New York may perform the duties of office or hold court in any county
49 and may be temporarily assigned to the [supreme] superior court in the
50 judicial department of [his or her] their residence.
51 e. A judge of the surrogate's court in any county outside the city of
52 New York may perform the duties of office or hold court in any county
53 and may be temporarily assigned to the [supreme] superior court in the
54 judicial department of [his or her] their residence or to the county
55 court or the family court in any county or to a court for the city of
56 New York established pursuant to section fifteen of this article.
A. 8437 17
1 f. A judge of the family court may perform the duties of office or
2 hold court in any county and may be temporarily assigned to the
3 [supreme] superior court in the judicial department of [his or her]
4 their residence or to the county court or the family court in any county
5 or to the surrogate's court in any county outside of the city of New
6 York or to a court for the city of New York established pursuant to
7 section fifteen of this article.
8 g. A judge of a court for the city of New York established pursuant to
9 section fifteen of this article may perform the duties of office or hold
10 court in any county and may be temporarily assigned to the [supreme]
11 superior court in the judicial department of [his or her] their resi-
12 dence or to the county court or the family court in any county or to the
13 other court for the city of New York established pursuant to section
14 fifteen of this article.
15 § 22. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 27 of article 6 of
16 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
17 § 27. The governor may, when in [his or her] their opinion the public
18 interest requires, appoint extraordinary terms of the [supreme] superior
19 court. The governor shall designate the time and place of holding the
20 term and the justice who shall hold the term. The governor may terminate
21 the assignment of the justice and may name another justice in [his or
22 her] their place to hold the term.
23 § 23. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions a and c of
24 section 28 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as
25 follows:
26 a. The chief judge of the supreme court [of appeals] shall be the
27 chief judge of the state of New York and shall be the chief judicial
28 officer of the unified court system. There shall be an administrative
29 board of the courts which shall consist of the chief judge of the
30 supreme court [of appeals] as chairperson and the presiding justice of
31 the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court of each judicial
32 department. The chief judge shall, with the advice and consent of the
33 administrative board of the courts, appoint a chief administrator of the
34 courts who shall serve at the pleasure of the chief judge.
35 c. The chief judge, after consultation with the administrative board,
36 shall establish standards and administrative policies for general appli-
37 cation throughout the state, which shall be submitted by the chief judge
38 to the supreme court [of appeals], together with the recommendations, if
39 any, of the administrative board. Such standards and administrative
40 policies shall be promulgated after approval by the supreme court [of
41 appeals].
42 § 24. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivision a of section
43 29 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
44 a. The legislature shall provide for the allocation of the cost of
45 operating and maintaining the supreme court [of appeals], the appellate
46 division of the [supreme] superior court in each judicial department,
47 the [supreme] superior court, the court of claims, the county court, the
48 surrogate's court, the family court, the courts for the city of New York
49 established pursuant to section fifteen of this article and the district
50 court, among the state, the counties, the city of New York and other
51 political subdivisions.
52 § 25. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions a and b of
53 section 34 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as
54 follows:
55 a. The supreme court [of appeals], the appellate division of the
56 [supreme] superior court, the [supreme] superior court, the court of
A. 8437 18
1 claims, the county court in counties outside the city of New York, the
2 surrogate's court and the district court of Nassau county shall hear and
3 determine all appeals, actions and proceedings pending therein on the
4 effective date of this article except that the appellate division of the
5 [supreme] superior court in the first and second judicial departments or
6 the appellate term in such departments, if so directed by the appropri-
7 ate appellate division of the supreme court, shall hear and determine
8 all appeals pending in the appellate terms of the [supreme] superior
9 court in the first and second judicial departments and in the court of
10 special sessions of the city of New York and except that the county
11 court or an appellate term shall, as may be provided by law, hear and
12 determine all appeals pending in the county court or the [supreme] supe-
13 rior court other than an appellate term. Further appeal from a decision
14 of the county court, the appellate term or the appellate division of the
15 [supreme] superior court, rendered on or after the effective date of
16 this article, shall be governed by the provisions of this article.
17 b. The justices of the [supreme] superior court in office on the
18 effective date of this article shall hold their offices as justices of
19 the [supreme] superior court until the expiration of their respective
20 terms.
21 § 26. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivisions b, m and n of
22 section 35 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as
23 follows:
24 b. The judges of the county court of the counties of Bronx, Kings,
25 Queens and Richmond and the judges of the court of general sessions of
26 the county of New York in office on the effective date of this article
27 shall, for the remainder of the terms for which they were elected or
28 appointed, be justices of the [supreme] superior court in and for the
29 judicial district which includes the county in which they resided on
30 that date. The salaries of such justices shall be the same as the sala-
31 ries of the other justices of the [supreme] superior court residing in
32 the same judicial district and shall be paid in the same manner. All
33 actions and proceedings pending in the county court of the counties of
34 Bronx, Kings, Queens and Richmond and in the court of general sessions
35 of the county of New York on the effective date of this article shall be
36 transferred to the [supreme] superior court in the county in which the
37 action or proceedings was pending, or otherwise as may be provided by
38 law.
39 m. In the event that a judgment or order was entered before the effec-
40 tive date of this article and a right of appeal existed and notice of
41 appeal therefrom is filed after the effective date of this article, such
42 appeal shall be taken from the [supreme] superior court, the county
43 courts, the surrogate's courts, the children's courts, the court of
44 general sessions of the county of New York and the domestic relations
45 court of the city of New York to the appellate division of the [supreme]
46 superior court in the judicial department in which such court was
47 located; from the court of claims to the appellate division of the
48 [supreme] superior court in the third judicial department, except for
49 those claims which arose in the fourth judicial department, in which
50 case the appeal shall be to the appellate division of the [supreme]
51 superior court in the fourth judicial department; from the city court of
52 the city of New York, the municipal court of the city of New York, the
53 court of special sessions of the city of New York and the city magis-
54 trates' courts of the city of New York to the appellate division of the
55 [supreme] superior court in the judicial department in which such court
56 was located, provided, however, that such appellate division of the
A. 8437 19
1 [supreme] superior court may transfer any such appeal to an appellate
2 term, if such appellate term be established; and from the district
3 court, town, village and city courts outside the city of New York to the
4 county court in the county in which such court was located, provided,
5 however, that the legislature may require the transfer of any such
6 appeal to an appellate term, if such appellate term be established.
7 Further appeal from a decision of a county court or an appellate term or
8 the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court shall be governed
9 by the provisions of this article. However, if in any action or proceed-
10 ing decided prior to the effective date of this article, a party had a
11 right of direct appeal from a court of original jurisdiction to the
12 supreme court [of appeals], such appeal may be taken directly to the
13 supreme court [of appeals].
14 n. In the event that an appeal was decided before the effective date
15 of this article and a further appeal could be taken as of right and
16 notice of appeal therefrom is filed after the effective date of this
17 article, such appeal may be taken from the appellate division of the
18 [supreme] superior court to the supreme court [of appeals] and from any
19 other court to the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court.
20 Further appeal from a decision of the appellate division of the
21 [supreme] superior court shall be governed by the provisions of this
22 article. If a further appeal could not be taken as of right, such appeal
23 shall be governed by the provisions of this article.
24 § 27. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 36-a of article 6
25 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
26 § 36-a. The amendments to the provisions of sections two, four, seven,
27 eight, eleven, twenty, twenty-two, twenty-six, twenty-eight, twenty-nine
28 and thirty of article six and to the provisions of section one of arti-
29 cle seven, as first proposed by a concurrent resolution passed by the
30 legislature in the year nineteen hundred seventy-six and entitled
31 "Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and Assembly proposing amendments
32 to articles six and seven of the constitution, in relation to the manner
33 of selecting judges of the supreme court [of appeals], creation of a
34 commission on judicial conduct and administration of the unified court
35 system, providing for the effectiveness of such amendments and the
36 repeal of subdivision c of section two, subdivision b of section seven,
37 subdivision b of section eleven, section twenty-two and section twenty-
38 eight of article six thereof relating thereto", shall become a part of
39 the constitution on the first day of January next after the approval and
40 ratification of the amendments proposed by such concurrent resolution by
41 the people but the provisions thereof shall not become operative and the
42 repeal of subdivision c of section two, section twenty-two and section
43 twenty-eight shall not become effective until the first day of April
44 next thereafter which date shall be deemed the effective date of such
45 amendments and the chief judge and the associate judges of the supreme
46 court [of appeals] in office on such effective date shall hold their
47 offices until the expiration of their respective terms. Upon a vacancy
48 in the office of any such judge, such vacancy shall be filled in the
49 manner provided in section two of article six.
50 § 28. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article 7 of
51 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
52 Section 1. For the preparation of the budget, the head of each depart-
53 ment of state government, except the legislature and judiciary, shall
54 furnish the governor such estimates and information in such form and at
55 such times as the governor may require, copies of which shall forthwith
56 be furnished to the appropriate committees of the legislature. The
A. 8437 20
1 governor shall hold hearings thereon at which the governor may require
2 the attendance of heads of departments and their subordinates. Desig-
3 nated representatives of such committees shall be entitled to attend the
4 hearings thereon and to make inquiry concerning any part thereof.
5 Itemized estimates of the financial needs of the legislature, certi-
6 fied by the presiding officer of each house, and of the judiciary,
7 approved by the supreme court [of appeals] and certified by the chief
8 judge of the supreme court [of appeals], shall be transmitted to the
9 governor not later than the first day of December in each year for
10 inclusion in the budget without revision but with such recommendations
11 as the governor may deem proper. Copies of the itemized estimates of
12 the financial needs of the judiciary also shall forthwith be transmitted
13 to the appropriate committees of the legislature.
14 § 29. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the fourth undesignated
15 paragraph of subdivision C of section 5 of article 8 of the constitution
16 be amended to read as follows:
17 Except as otherwise provided herein, the legislature shall prescribe
18 the method by which and the terms and conditions under which the propor-
19 tionate amount of any such indebtedness to be so excluded shall be
20 determined and no proportionate amount of such indebtedness shall be
21 excluded except in accordance with such determination. The legislature
22 may provide that the state comptroller shall make such determination or
23 it may confer appropriate jurisdiction on the appellate division of the
24 [supreme] superior court in the judicial departments in which such coun-
25 ties, cities, towns or villages are located for the purpose of determin-
26 ing the proportionate amount of any such indebtedness to be so excluded.
27 § 30. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivision A of section 7
28 of article 8 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
29 A. Indebtedness contracted prior to the first day of January, nineteen
30 hundred ten, for dock purposes proportionately to the extent to which
31 the current net revenues received by the city therefrom shall meet the
32 interest on and the annual requirements for the amortization of such
33 indebtedness. The legislature shall prescribe the method by which and
34 the terms and conditions under which the amount of any such indebtedness
35 to be so excluded shall be determined, and no such indebtedness shall be
36 excluded except in accordance with such determination. The legislature
37 may confer appropriate jurisdiction on the appellate division of the
38 [supreme] superior court in the first judicial department for the
39 purpose of determining the amount of any such indebtedness to be so
40 excluded.
41 § 31. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the second undesignated
42 paragraph of subdivision B of section 7-a of article 8 of the constitu-
43 tion be amended to read as follows:
44 In determining whether indebtedness for transit purposes may be
45 excluded under this paragraph of this section, there shall first be
46 deducted from the current net revenue received by the city from such
47 railroads and facilities and properties used in connection therewith and
48 rights therein and securities owned by the city: (a) an amount equal to
49 the interest and amortization requirements on indebtedness for rapid
50 transit purposes heretofore excluded by order of the appellate division,
51 which exclusion shall not be terminated by or under any provision of
52 this section; (b) an amount equal to the interest on indebtedness
53 contracted pursuant to this section and of the annual requirements for
54 amortization on any sinking fund bonds and for redemption of any serial
55 bonds evidencing such indebtedness; (c) an amount equal to the sum of
56 all taxes and bridge tolls accruing to the city in the fiscal year of
A. 8437 21
1 the city preceding the acquisition of the railroads or facilities or
2 properties or rights therein or securities acquired by the city here-
3 under, from such railroads, facilities and properties; and (d) the
4 amount of net operating revenue derived by the city from the independent
5 subway system during such fiscal year. The legislature shall prescribe
6 the method by which and the terms and conditions under which the amount
7 of any indebtedness to be excluded hereunder shall be determined, and no
8 indebtedness shall be excluded except in accordance with the determi-
9 nation so prescribed. The legislature may confer appropriate jurisdic-
10 tion on the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court in the
11 first judicial department for the purpose of determining the amount of
12 any debt to be so excluded.
13 § 32. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivision (d) of section
14 1 of article 9 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
15 (d) No local government or any part of the territory thereof shall be
16 annexed to another until the people, if any, of the territory proposed
17 to be annexed shall have consented thereto by majority vote on a refer-
18 endum and until the governing board of each local government, the area
19 of which is affected, shall have consented thereto upon the basis of a
20 determination that the annexation is in the over-all public interest.
21 The consent of the governing board of a county shall be required only
22 where a boundary of the county is affected. On or before July first,
23 nineteen hundred sixty-four, the legislature shall provide, where such
24 consent of a governing board is not granted, for adjudication and deter-
25 mination, on the law and the facts, in a proceeding initiated in the
26 [supreme] superior court, of the issue of whether the annexation is in
27 the over-all public interest.
28 § 33. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That subdivision (a) of section
29 13 of article 13 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
30 (a) Except in counties in the city of New York and except as author-
31 ized in section one of article nine of this constitution, registers in
32 counties having registers shall be chosen by the electors of the respec-
33 tive counties once in every three years and whenever the occurring of
34 vacancies shall require; the sheriff and the clerk of each county shall
35 be chosen by the electors once in every three or four years as the
36 legislature shall direct. Sheriffs shall hold no other office. They may
37 be required by law to renew their security, from time to time; and in
38 default of giving such new security, their offices shall be deemed
39 vacant. The governor may remove any elective sheriff, county clerk,
40 district attorney or register within the term for which [he or she] they
41 shall have been elected; but before so doing the governor shall give to
42 such officer a copy of the charges against [him or her] them and an
43 opportunity of being heard in [his or her] their defense. In each county
44 a district attorney shall be chosen by the electors once in every three
45 or four years as the legislature shall direct. The clerk of each county
46 in the city of New York shall be appointed, and be subject to removal,
47 by the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court in the judi-
48 cial department in which the county is located. In addition to [his or
49 her] their powers and duties as clerk of the [supreme] superior court,
50 [he or she] they shall have power to select, draw, summon and empanel
51 grand and petit jurors in the manner and under the conditions now or
52 hereafter prescribed by law, and shall have such other powers and duties
53 as shall be prescribed by the city from time to time by local law.
54 § 34. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 5 of article 14 of
55 the constitution be amended to read as follows:
A. 8437 22
1 § 5. A violation of any of the provisions of this article may be
2 restrained at the suit of the people or, with the consent of the
3 [supreme] superior court in appellate division, on notice to the attor-
4 ney-general at the suit of any citizen.
5 § 35. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the opening paragraph of
6 section 4 of article 18 of the constitution be amended to read as
7 follows:
8 To effectuate any of the purposes of this article, the legislature may
9 authorize any city, town or village to contract indebtedness to an
10 amount which shall not exceed two per centum of the average assessed
11 valuation of the real estate of such city, town or village subject to
12 taxation, as determined by the last completed assessment roll and the
13 four preceding assessment rolls of such city, town or village, for city,
14 town or village taxes prior to the contracting of such indebtedness. In
15 ascertaining the power of a city, or village having a population of five
16 thousand or more as determined by the last federal census, to contract
17 indebtedness pursuant to this article there may be excluded any such
18 indebtedness if the project or projects aided by guarantees representing
19 such indebtedness or by loans for which such indebtedness was contracted
20 shall have yielded during the preceding year net revenue to be deter-
21 mined annually by deducting from the gross revenues, including periodic
22 subsidies therefor, received from such project or projects, all costs of
23 operation, maintenance, repairs and replacements, and the interest on
24 such indebtedness and the amounts required in such year for the payment
25 of such indebtedness; provided that in the case of guarantees such
26 interest and such amounts shall have been paid, and in the case of loans
27 an amount equal to such interest and such amounts shall have been paid
28 to such city or village. The legislature shall prescribe the method by
29 which the amount of any such indebtedness to be excluded shall be deter-
30 mined, and no such indebtedness shall be excluded except in accordance
31 with such determination. The legislature may confer appropriate juris-
32 diction on the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court in the
33 judicial departments in which such cities or villages are located for
34 the purpose of determining the amount of any such indebtedness to be so
35 excluded.
36 § 36. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendments
37 be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
38 next succeeding general election of members of the Assembly, and, in
39 conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be
40 published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
