Bill > S08418

This bill proposes significant changes to New York's judicial department structure by creating two new judicial districts (the fourteenth and fifteenth) within the fourth judicial department. Specifically, the fourteenth judicial district will consist of Onondaga County, while the fifteenth judicial district will comprise Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Livingston, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, and Wyoming counties. The bill also adjusts the number of Supreme Court justices in various judicial districts, reducing the number in the fifth, seventh, and eighth districts while adding nine justices to the new fourteenth district and thirteen to the new fifteenth district. The changes will affect the existing judicial districts by redistributing counties and justices, with provisions to ensure that current justices and court employees will continue in their roles in the restructured districts. The bill is designed to take effect on January 1, 2027, with justices for these new districts to be selected in the November 2026 general election, and it aims to reorganize the judicial districts to potentially improve court administration and efficiency.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8418