New-York tribune., 1902-01-09
TO RELIEVE THE COURTS.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PRO
POSED TO ALLOW COUNTY JUDGES
TO ACT IN TRIAL TERMS

Albany, Jan. (SpeciaD.-An amendment TO the
constitution TO carry out one of Governor OdeIls
recommendations submitted to the Senate
to-day by Senator Slater The Governor in his
message called attention ito the overcrowded
condition OF the calendars in the Ist and lid
Judicial departments" and suggested that ''ac-
ton by the legislature to remedy the same
should be taken" He added:
Perhaps the solution of the problem might be
through a constitutional amendment providing
for the temporary designation of county judges
TO trial terms, either within or without their
own judicial department. until such calendars
shall have been cleared.
Senator sater's proposed amendment to the
constitution amends Section 1 OF Article OF the
constitution. by adding the following paragraph:
Whenever and as often as the number of
causes upon the calendar OF the trial term of
the Supreme Court in any county shall exceed
two thousand. the Appellate Division of the de-
partment embracing such county shall certify
such fact to the Governor who shall thereupon
designate such number Of county Judges not
exceeding ten. he shall deem necessary. 10
act as justices OF the Supreme Court for such
time as he shall designate but no longer than
until the number OF causes upon the said calen-
der shall have been reduced to two thousand.
which fact shall thereupon be certified by such
Appellate Division to the Governor. and the
Ming of said certificate such designations of
county judges TO serve as justices OF the Su-
preme Court shall thereupon expire. The coun-
~ judges designated shall continue TO act as
county Judges except during the time for which
they shall be designated justices of the
Supreme Court. They shall receive the same
compensation for their services such Justices
as is paid 10 justices of the Supreme Court from
other departments assigned to the county to
which such county judges designated. TO be
paid in the same manner. No county judge
shall serve as justice OF the Supreme Court
cept while holding the office of county judge.
nor shall sit outside the county to which he shall
be assigned.
The county judges usually receive about
$1,000 year salary. while the judges of the
Supreme Court in the Ist Judicial District
ceive S17,5O0 ye1r. It can be inferred that
under these circulns tances the county judges
district. The Supreme Court in the Ist and lid
Democratic judges. In recent years Republi-
judges have been elected IN the districts.
II the proposed amendment to the constitution
given above be adopted a still larger infusion
OF Republican judges will follow. since most
Of the county judges up the State are Repub-
licans.
Governor Odel in his message recommended
that the Governor alone be empowered, on the
request OF the Chief Justice of the Appellate
Division OF any judicial department Of the
State. 10 make assignments TO them of judges.
Senator Slater introduced bill to carry out this
1t amends Section OF Chap
ter 261 Of the Laws of 1892. saying: ANY such
justice shall be deemed to be duly assigned
within the meaning Of this act when he shall
hold any court perform judicial duties in and
for the lid Judicial District in the county OF
Kings upon the designation of the Governor