Public Comment on Amending Chief Administrative Judge Rule 126.3

David Nocenti, Esq.
Counsel
Office of Court Administration
25 Beaver Street, 10th Fl.
New York, NY 10004
rulecomments@nycourts.gov

Re: Request for Public Comment on Amending Chief Administrative Judge Rule 126.3 to Increase the Per Diem Rates for Judges Assigned to an Off-Hours Arraignment Part

Dear Mr. Nocenti:

The Criminal Courts Committee of the New York City Bar Association is made up of practicing criminal defense attorneys (both private and public), assistant district attorneys, judges (retired and currently serving), law school professors, and court attorneys and staff. All the members are actively involved in the New York criminal courts and criminal legal system.

On behalf of the Criminal Courts Committee, we are in favor of the proposed amendment to Chief Administrative Judge Rule 126.3, to increase the town/village/part time justice salary. We do not believe the proposed amendment should otherwise affect in any way the line items of the State budget for public defender organizations and prosecutor offices. The reason we support this increase is because these judges are vital to making sure that cases are adjudicated. An increase is warranted to properly reflect inflation and the important work these judges do. Without proper compensation it will make it more difficult to fill these roles, thus leading to a potential failure of the courts to administer cases timely and judiciously.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Criminal Courts Committee
Anna Cominsky and Carola Beeney, Co-Chairs