Brooklyn legal community lends support to push for more family court judges
The New York State Coalition for More Family Court Judges, a coalition of more than 80 organizations from across the state, including the Brooklyn Defender Services and the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, was in the state Capitol Wednesday, advocating for more resources for Family Court, including at least 20 more Family Court Judges statewide.
“I think it is a priority to create new Family Court judgeships,” said New York State Senator John Bonacic (R-Mt. Hope), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Family Courts are on overload, and this has a negative impact of families, particularly children. It is time we provide Family Courts with some long overdue relief.”
According to a report conducted by Modern Courts—an independent, statewide court reform organization committed to improving the judicial system—more than 700,000 cases are filed annually in statewide Family Courts, and only 153 Family Court Judges are available to hear those cases.