Judicial Commissions

Agency Web Site: http://www.scjc.state.ny.us/, http://nysegov.com/cjn/

Mission

New York State’s three Judicial Commissions play important roles in maintaining the integrity of the court system. The Commission on Judicial Nomination and the Judicial Screening Committees screen potential nominees for high-level judicial appointments by the Governor. The Commission on Judicial Conduct investigates and acts upon allegations of judicial misconduct.

Commission on Judicial Conduct

The State Constitution established the Commission on Judicial Conduct, which is responsible for investigating complaints of misconduct against State judges and local justices. The Commission has disciplinary powers, which include the authority to remove judges and justices from office for serious misconduct, subject to review by the Court of Appeals.

Commission on Judicial Nomination

The State Constitution established the Commission on Judicial Nomination to evaluate candidates and make recommendations to the Governor for appointment to the Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court. The Commission on Judicial Nomination has 12 members appointed by the Governor, the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the Legislature. These members serve without pay and conduct the search for qualified candidates upon formal notification of a vacancy on the Court of Appeals.

Governor’s Judicial Screening Committees

The Governor’s Judicial Screening Committees are established by Executive Order to evaluate the qualifications of candidates and make recommendations to the Governor for appointment to judgeships other than those on the Court of Appeals. The Committees are located throughout the State.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $5.5 million for the three Judicial Commissions, which is unchanged from the prior year. The recommended workforce of 49 FTEs for the Commission on Judicial Conduct is also unchanged from the prior year.

ALL FUNDS APPROPRIATIONS
All amounts are in dollars
Category	Available 2011-12	Appropriations Recommended 2012-13	Change From 2011-12	Reappropriations Recommended 2012-13
State Operations	5,452,000	5,452,000	0	0
Total	5,452,000	5,452,000	0	0

PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT
Full-Time Equivalent Positions (FTE)
Program	2011-12 Estimated FTEs 03/31/12	2012-13 Estimated FTEs 03/31/13	FTE Change
Judicial Conduct
General Fund	49	49	0
Total	49	49	0

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/17/2012

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables

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