BILL NUMBER: S4825A
SPONSOR: HOYLMAN-SIGAL
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the judiciary law, in relation to the age limitation for
judges
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::
To increase the mandatory retirement age limitation for judges in the
State of New York from 70 to 76 years of age.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section 1 amends section 23 of the judiciary law, as added by chapter
649 of the laws of 1945 to set the retirement age for city court judges
in the State of New York to 76 years of age.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
N/A
 
JUSTIFICATION::
City court judges perform a vital function in our criminal justice
system. For many charged with a crime in New York State, they are the
first judge a will come into contact with. Current state law sets a
mandatory retirement age for city court judges at age 70. This law was
established in 1945 when the average life expectancy was 63 years.
Today, average life expectancy is 79.1 years of age. It should be noted
that today, individuals live healthy and productive lives well past age
79 with many choosing to remain in the professional workforce. We
believe that city court judges who are approaching 70 years of age bring
a wealth of experience and expertise to the criminal justice system.
Allowing city court judges to serve over the age of 70 will only
strengthen our criminal justice system ensuring that those accused of a
crime in our cities appear before a jurist who is the most qualified and
experienced.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
Senate:
2023-24: S1785-Passed Senate
Assembly:
2019-20: A6917-Referred to Judiciary
2021-22: A3238-Referred to Judiciary
2023-24: A50-Referred to Judiciary
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS::
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S4825: 23 judiciary law
S4825A: 23 judiciary law