The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-22
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
The judiciary Article Considered Fur
Their By Mr.. Wickersham.

iOWlnR Cn6 principle OI COInplete InO.
bilization Of the judicial force, and in
conformity with recommendations of
numerous bar associations and Judges.
the revised Constitution provides for
the consolidation into one tribunal of
all the criminal courts within the city
Of New York except the Supreme Court
having Jurisdiction superior to that
Of Magistrates and Special Sessions
Courts.
In this respect the convention fol-
lowed the example recently set by the
Legislature in uniting all tho Courts
of Special Sessions in the five coun-
ties into one Court Of Special Ses-
sions for the city Of New York, hav-
Ing Jurisdiction in minor criminal
cases.. and in the case of the Munich
pal Court Of the city Of New York,
which Is a similar consolidation of the
local inferior courts Of civil jurisdic-
ton.
The revised Constitution provides
that from and after January 1. 1917.
the Jurisdiction Of the Court Of General
Sessions Of the city Of New York shall
be extended throughout the city, and
there shall be devolved upon It in
addition to the Jurisdiction In criminal,
matters now possessed by 1t in New
| York and Bronx counties the criminal
Jurisdiction of the County Courts in
Kings. Queens and Richmond. The
Judges of the respective County
Courts are TO become Judges Of the
Court ot General Sessions, and to
serve as such until the expiration Of
a. A-.~-. o., .ll-I, s-, ., L@-n
elected, receiving the same compen-
sation which at present is attached
to their respective offices. Their sue
cessors shall be elected in the counties
where they at present reside for a
uniform period Of fourteen years and
their compensation shall be fixed by
the Legislature. The Judges of the
court are empowered to choose a
Presiding Judge. charged with the
general administration of the court,
and who shall assign the Judges to
hold the various terms Of the cour
throughout h greater city. subject
to such regulations as the Presiding
Justices Of the Appellate Divisions OF
the Supreme Court in the First, and
Second Departments from time to
tlLIlo bLthii PICSSI lDCs nv Lt Z
in its discretion may authorize the
election of one additional Judge to
reside in and be chosen by the cleo
tors in the county of Bronx.
Thus instead Of four separate courts
Of superior criminal Jurisdiction in the
city Of New York there will be one
such court with fifteen Judges. hav-
ing jurisdiction throughout the city
charged with the general enforcement
Of the criminal law within the city,
subject to h present Jurisdiction OF
the Supreme Court, which is exercised
only in exceptional cases. This supe-
rior organization Of the judicial force
for The despatch OF criminal Justice
throughout the city ought to result in
better. more speedy and more econom-
ical administration of the criminal law
than under existing conditions.
Actuated by similar consideration
the revised Constitution provides fur.
Their that from and after January /
1917. the Jurisdiction Of the City Cour,
OF the city Of New York is continued
throughout the greater city. the civi'
Jurisdiction now exercised by the
County Courts in Kings. Queens ant
Richmond being devolved upon il, the
court to consist OF the Judges OF the
City Court Of the city OF New Yorl
now in office. who shall continue fol
the remainder OF the terms for which
they were elected or appointed. and OIL
five additional Judges, two OF whom
are to reside in and be chosen by tn,
electors in the county OF Kings ant
one by those of each of the countie.
OF Bronx. Richmond and Queens
They and their successors are to holt
Office for ten years inc to receive {
salary to be fixed by the Legislature
Until the Legislature shall otherwis,
provide. the Judge OF the City Cour
chosen in the county of Richmon,
shall be Surrogate OF that county, bu
II the business warrant the Legisla
ture Is authorized TO provide for 4;
separate Surrogate in that county. an,
In its discretion 10 authorize the cleo
ton of two additional Judges Of tn
City Court. one from Bronx, the othe,
from Kings.
There are ten Judges Of the Cit,
Court OF the city of New York. Tn,
additional five required TO be elected
will bring the personnel OF that cour
up to fifteen. These Judges are I,
choose a Presiding Judge charged will
the general administration of tn,
court, and who shall assign the Judge
to hold the terms of the court through
out the greater city. subject To sucl
regulations as the Presiding Justice
Of the Appellate Divisions in the FRS
and Second Departments shall from
time TO time prescribe.
With regard to Doth the Court O
General Sessions and the City Cour
the precedent established in 1894 re
speeding the consolidation of the Su
perior Court OF the city of New Yorl
and the Court of Common Pleas O
the city and county of New York wit
the Supreme Court is followed. am
the provisions relating to the consoli
dation of the courts n the extension
OF jurisdiction are made to talk
8 effect only at the expiration of on
= year from the adoption OF the Consti
tuition, So rs To enable the n~ecesSir
1 arrangements for those changes I
/, be perfected and the appropriate leg
islation enacted without Inconvenience
/ to the public.
= There are a number OF provision
4 included in the proposed amendment
l dealing with inferior local courts. I'm
' der the Constitution of 1894 it ha
been held that the Legislature ann
: extend the jurisdiction of a local coui
beyond the limits of the city or vii
lage in which it Is established. TIL