Criminal Justice (Judges)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2233: Provides for the temporary surrender of firearms where an individual may be a danger to themself or others

Provides for the temporary surrender of firearms to the police by any person who is taken into custody by the police for the purpose of a mental examination and prior to an examination ordered pursuant to article seven hundred thirty of the criminal procedure law; requires a "cooling off period" following the discharge from psychiatric care during which time firearms, which came into police custody during the person's pre-hospitalization intervention or during hospitalization, may be kept in police custody for thirty days, or after a psychiatric examiner has determined whether the person is a threat to themself or others; provides that a judge of the local jurisdiction may order an early return of the firearms if such judge determines that it would be appropriate to do so.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates temporary firearm surrender during mental health crises to prevent harm, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing gun violence and enhancing public safety.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Judges Policing

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died · New York · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 4836: Increases the number of county court judges in Schenectady county

This bill would increase the number of county court judges in Schenectady County from one to two positions. It amends the judiciary law to reflect this change, requiring a new judge to be elected in the November 2025 general election and take office on January 1, 2026. The adjustment directly affects Schenectady County residents who use the county court system for legal matters and aims to address judicial workload capacity. The bill’s provisions are limited to structural changes in court staffing, with no additional funding or policy provisions described.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases county court judges to address judicial workload capacity, strengthening court system efficiency within criminal justice framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6001: Relates to enacting the "fair court of appeals access act"

This bill, S 6001 ("Fair Court of Appeals Access Act"), changes how criminal defendants request permission to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals from decisions by intermediate appellate courts. It requires all such applications for "leave to appeal" to be submitted directly to the full Court of Appeals (not individual judges or justices), specifically to the chief judge who then assigns a judge to review the request. The bill mandates written submissions to the Court of Appeals clerk, requires notification to the opposing party, and demands that all decisions on these applications be filed immediately with the court clerk. This directly affects criminal defendants seeking to challenge intermediate court rulings by altering the procedural path to the highest appellate court.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStreamlines appeals process for criminal defendants, requiring direct submission to full Court of Appeals, enhancing access to higher court review and protecting defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 539: Relates to a negotiated sentence of imprisonment

Provides that a pre-sentence investigation and written report thereon shall not be required where a negotiated sentence of imprisonment for a term of three hundred sixty-five days or less has been mutually agreed upon by the parties with consent of the judge, as a result of a conviction or revocation of a sentence of probation; removes the requirement of solely in a city with a population of one million or more.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves pre-sentence investigation requirement for negotiated 365-day sentences, streamlining process and reducing bureaucratic hurdles in sentencing - aligns with reform efforts to improve efficiency.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5272: Sets hourly rates for persons representing certain persons in court or before a magistrate

This bill sets pay rates for court-appointed lawyers representing people who cannot afford legal representation. It establishes $158 per hour for misdemeanor cases (both in and out of court) and $164 per hour for all other cases, with annual adjustments starting in 2027 based on federal standards. Total case payments are capped at $10,000 (adjusted annually), and lawyers must submit sworn statements detailing their work to receive reimbursement. The policy directly affects appointed defense attorneys in county court proceedings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes government spending for court-appointed lawyers via set pay rates and reimbursement caps, directly funding public defense services within state budget framework.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSets fair hourly rates ($158-$164) for appointed defense attorneys, improving access to quality legal representation for indigent defendants, a key criminal justice reform principle.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3089: Requires certain justices and judges to visit the correctional facility with the highest population in the county in which such justice or judge was elected or appointed

Requires justices of the supreme court, judges of the county court and judges of the court of claims, regularly sitting in a criminal term or in a term with criminal as well as civil jurisdiction to visit the correctional facility with the highest population of incarcerated individuals in the county in which such justice is appointed or elected within two years of such appointment or election and every two years thereafter; requires a report on the conditions of such correctional facility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires judges to inspect correctional facilities and report conditions, enhancing oversight and transparency in corrections, a key aspect of criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Judges

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died · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 4957: Provides for review of bail data reports by the state commission on judicial conduct

Provides for review of bail data reports by the state commission on judicial conduct to study such reports for evidence of bias or prejudice by any judge or justice, and where appropriate based on such reports, to initiate, investigate, and hear complaints and otherwise comment on matters of bias and prejudice evidenced therein.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates review of bail data for judicial bias, enhancing oversight to protect against prejudice in court decisions, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges

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passed both · New York · Senate May 18, 2026

S 329: Facilitates appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern

This bill (S 329) changes criminal procedure rules to allow defendants to appeal a judge's decision denying a motion to suppress evidence - even if they later enter a guilty plea. It directly affects criminal defendants who want to challenge evidence rulings that may involve issues of public concern. The key provision amends the law to make such denial orders "reviewable upon appeal" from the final conviction, removing a previous barrier that prevented appeals after a guilty plea. This provides a clearer path for defendants to seek appellate review of critical evidence rulings without being barred by their own plea. The change applies to all criminal cases where evidence suppression is contested.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allows defendants to appeal evidence suppression rulings after guilty plea, strengthening due process rights in criminal proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7352: Relates to enacting the "fair court of appeals access act"

This bill, "Fair Court of Appeals Access Act," changes how criminal defendants request permission to appeal to the Court of Appeals. It requires all applications for leave to appeal from intermediate appellate court orders to be submitted directly to the full Court of Appeals (not to individual judges or justices), applying to all criminal appeals filed after the law's effective date. Key provisions include mandating written submissions to the Court of Appeals clerk (with the chief judge designating a judge to review), replacing current options where some applications could go to appellate division justices, and requiring immediate filing of all decisions. This directly affects criminal defendants seeking higher court review of lower court rulings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates direct submission to full Court of Appeals for criminal appeals, enhancing defendant access and reducing individual judge discretion in appeal processing95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 2, 2026

A 4674: Enacts the "criminal court opinion transparency act"

This bill, the "Criminal Court Opinion Transparency Act," requires New York courts to publish detailed statistics about criminal cases online, including defendant demographics (age, gender, race, ethnicity), judge information, and case outcomes. It mandates that this data be made available in machine-readable tabular format for free public download, updated quarterly, and accessible through a searchable online database. The bill also requires court clerks to automatically transmit criminal court opinions to the state reporter in machine-readable format within five days of issuance, without cost to municipalities. These changes aim to increase public access to judicial decision-making processes in criminal cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public transparency of criminal court data including demographics and outcomes, enhancing oversight and accountability - key indicators of criminal justice reform.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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