Special Commission on the Future of the New York State Courts

Groups representing the indigent also uniformly support
restructuring. Significant to these groups, naturally, are the
deleterious effects the current system has on members of the
low-income community, who can least afford the increased costs
imposed by the current system. As Legal Services of New York
has stated, the congestion and confusion caused by the current
court system “particularly affects the lives of poor people in
New York City . . . . Unable to defend themselves adequately,
and often missing rescheduled court dates due to lack of child
care options or rigid work schedules, poor people lose their
homes, medical care, public benefits and families.” 118
Finally, a broad cross-section of legal groups – including
statewide bar associations, judges’ groups, and local lawyers’
associations – stand firmly behind restructuring. In their view,
the current court system demeans the quality of justice courts
are currently able to provide. Indeed, the New York State Bar
Association and the Association of the Bar for the City of New
York have for decades supported court restructuring. 119 The
Atlantic Legal Foundation has also supported court restructuring
for years and has stated that “[t]he current system cannot be
defended. It is inefficient, costly to litigants and generally not
conducive to the swift administration of justice.” 120 These
organizations and others have – in addition to historically
supporting court reform – specifically endorsed the proposals
that we make in this Report. Their statements of support are
included in Appendix iii. 121
118
See id.
119
See id.
120
See id.
121
The complete list of organizations that have submitted letters of support
is as follows: Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Atlantic Legal
Foundation, the Business Council of New York State, Center for Law and Justice,
Citizen’s Union of the City of New York, the Fund for Modern Courts, League of
Women Voters of New York State, Legal Services for New York, Long Island Association,
Metropolitan Development Association of Central New York, New York
County Lawyers’Association, New York State Association of City Court Judges,
New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, New York State Association
of Family Court Judges, New York State Bar Association, Partnership for
New York City, and the Westchester County Association.
60
A Court System for the Future, February 2007