BILL NUMBER: S7213
SPONSOR: LANZA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the judiciary law, in relation to the number of justices
of the supreme court in the thirteenth judicial district
 
PURPOSE:
To increase the number of Justices in the 13th Judicial District to ten
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends subdivision 2 and 13 of section 140-a of the Judici-
ary Law as amended by Chapter 365 of the Laws of 2022 to increase the
number of Justices in the 13th Judicial District to ten.
Section two allows Justice Thomas P. Aliotta, and his successor in
office on the effective date of this act shall for the remainder of the
term for which he or she was elected or appointed to be a justice of the
Supreme Court in and for the 13th Judicial District.
Section three allows the additional justice in the 13th judicial
district to be elected at the general election to be held in November
2024 and shall first take office January 1, 2025
Section four is an immediate effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
On December 5, 2007, the Governor signed legislation, Chapter 690 of the
Laws of 2007 creating the 13th Judicial District. Under this law, Staten
Island (Richmond County) was allowed to have to have three Supreme Court
Justices. Under the State Constitution, a Supreme Court District must
have one Justice for every 50,000 residents. Based on the most recent
U.S. Census data, Staten Island is allowed 10 Justices. By increasing
the number of Justices authorized by the New York Constitution, Staten
Island should receive more judges to handle ever-heavier caseloads. This
bill is the final step in the process to give Staten island the required
10 Justice positions for the 13th Judicial District.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S.5998 - Referred to Judiciary
2023: S.5998 - Referred to Judiciary
2022: S.4567 - Referred to Judiciary
2021: S.4567 - Referred to Judiciary
2020: S.1755 - Referred to Judiciary
2019: S.1755 - Referred to Judiciary
2018: S.6201-A - Passed Senate / A.8144-A - Referred to Judiciary
2017: S.6201 - Passed Senate / A.8144 - Referred to Judiciary
2016: S.4657-A - Passed Senate / A.8293-A Held in Judiciary
2015: S.4657 - Passed Senate / A.8293- Referred to Judiciary
2014: S.2478-A - Referred to Judiciary/ A.4962-A - Referred to Judiciary
2013: S.4225 - Referred to Judiciary / A.4962 - Referred to Judiciary
2012: S.4225 - Passed Senate / A.7481- Referred to Judiciary
2011: S.7481 - Passed Senate / A.7481- Referred to Judiciary
2010: S.615 - Referred to Judiciary /A.4049 - Referred to Judiciary
2009: S.615 - Referred to Judiciary /A.4049 - Referred to Judiciary
2008: S.6754 - Passed Senate / A.11142- Referred to Judiciary
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately

Statutes affected:
S7213: 140-a judiciary law, 140-a(13) judiciary law