Bill > S02597

This bill establishes comprehensive standards for public access to family court proceedings in New York, creating a new section in the Family Court Act that fundamentally changes how these courts operate. The bill mandates that family court shall generally be open to the public, including news media, with access to courtrooms, lobbies, and waiting areas. However, the court retains discretion to exclude individuals from proceedings on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as potential disruption, objections from parties, the nature of the proceeding, privacy interests, and the protection of vulnerable individuals, particularly children. When excluding the public or media, the court must make a specific finding on the record explaining the rationale. The bill also empowers the court to provide instructions to media representatives about courtroom conduct and requires the chief court administrator to prevent the release of sensitive information about individuals involved in court proceedings. Additionally, the bill updates several existing sections of the Family Court Act to align with these new standards, ensuring consistency across different types of family court hearings, such as those involving child support, paternity, and other family-related legal matters. The changes aim to balance transparency in judicial proceedings with the need to protect the privacy and well-being of those involved, especially children.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2597