News from New York State Bar Association

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Statement from New York State Bar Association President Kathryn Grant Madigan

United States Supreme Court Decision on Judicial Selection

ALBANY, NY (01/16/2008; 1334)(readMedia)-- “As the New York State Bar Association argued in an amicus brief before the United States Supreme Court, the convention based process for selecting judges severely burdens the rights of voters and judicial candidates. The decision by the Court today reaffirms the need for legislative reform to New York’s judicial selection process that currently places too much power in the hands of political bosses who were never elected by the people and cannot be held accountable by the people.

“In 2007, the Association worked with Governor Eliot Spitzer to craft a proposed constitutional amendment that would enact a commission based appointment system, which will greatly increase the likelihood that the best and brightest will serve on the bench. We urge the Governor and the Legislature to take action on this crucial issue during the 2008 legislative session. Without remedy, this dysfunctional process will continue to undermine judicial independence and erode public confidence in our system of justice.”

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