City Bar Releases Guide to New York Judicial Selection Process

The New York City Bar Association has issued a new guide entitled “Judicial Selection Methods in the State of New York: A Guide to Understanding and Getting Involved in the Selection Process.” The guide is designed to inform the public of the different ways judges are selected, and ways the public can participate in the process. Prepared by the City Bar’s Council on Judicial Administration, this guide gives a brief summary of the different methods for selecting judges for each state and federal court in New York, with a focus on New York City, including whether they are elected or appointed and term lengths. The guide also discusses the variety of opportunities to participate in the process, including voicing an opinion to the appointing authority (the mayor or governor, for example), running for election as a delegate to a judicial convention, or becoming a member of a screening panel. “Diverse participation is good for the process of selecting judges. Greater participation by individuals brings transparency to the process and promotes public confidence in our courts,” the guide states. The guide concludes, “New York deserves a judiciary of the highest quality and independence, as well as a judiciary that reflects the broad array of views and experiences of our City’s and State’s diverse population. Active, well-informed citizen participation in the judicial selection process can help achieve these goals. We encourage all lawyers and others to take advantage of the opportunities for involvement that are described in this guide.” The guide can be read here: bit.ly/1iYXrKX