New-York tribune., 1922-01-05
Court Reforms
Are Submitted
To Legislature
Convention Report Urges
Extending Jurisdiction Of
General Sessions Bench
Through Greater City
Plans Presented for Tribu-
mails DealingWith Children
and Domestic Relations

ALBANY. Jan. 4. - The report of
the Judicial Constitutional Convention,
which was submitted TO the Legislature
at its opening session to-day. contains
amendments to the judiciary articles of
the state constitution which are char
acterized as "noedcd and useful reforms
in the administration Of justice"
The reconstructions include plan for
the abolition of the county courts in
Kings, Bronx, Queens and Richmond
counties, ana extending the jurisdiction
of the existing Court of General Ses-
slons for the City and County of New
York over the entire greater city I'm
der this plan, the jurisdiction of the
City Court Of New York also would be
extended throughout greater New York.
Plans for the creations of children 3
courts and courts of domestic relations,
in accordance with the expressed will
of the electorate at the November cleo
ton, are included II the report.
The report contains recommends -
tion calling for the vcsting by constitu~
tional provision of the judicial powc,
in the courts. 1t is pointed out that
under existing conditions, while the
Constitution gives the legislative power
to the Senate and Assembly and the
executive power to the Governor, the
JuulC!dl power is not vested IN the
courts or any other body
The ratio of justices of the Supreme
Court to population might wisely be
increased from $4,000 to 100000 in the
First and Second Judicial districts, and
from $4,000 to $4,000 in the remain
ing seven districts, the report says.
The report also suggests Il new pro
vision in regard to extraordinary terms
appointed by the Governor. The pro
posed amendment is for the purpose
of preventing the appointment Of a
| justice to hold an extraordinary term
without consulting the justices of the
within which such term is to be held
In the Judgment of tho convention
says the report, justices of the Appel
/ late Division snouid Ge consulted and
should determine who should hold such
an extraordinary term, provided the
( Appellate Division be then in session
A recommendation that the Court of
Appeals be continued as at present con
constituted and that the present pro
vision for designation Of justices OF
the Supreme Court TO serve n the
I ii now is. limited to four justices at
any one time, also is contained in the
rcnor.-
As TO The jurisdiction Of the Court
Of Appeals. the convention says it
should continue essentially and al
ways Il court Of law, and it recon-
mcnds but two exceptions. One of
thcec is whenever the Judgment is OF
death. The other provides that + the
| Appellate Division actually makes new
findings Of fact and thcrcupon renders
final judgment. the itigant decided
against should have a review Of those
proceedings in some appellate tribuna
The report further recommends that
tho power of removal and Impeachment
shall be continued as at present pro
vided, but suggests tnat the power to
call extraordinary sessions of the Leg
islature, now vested solely in the Gov
ernor. be extended to the Legislature.
Two other recommendations arc:
Establishment Of centralized state
law reporting bureau, which would col
lcct. compile and publish annually the
civil and criminal judicial statistics OF
the state.
Empowering the Legislature to fix
the salaries of judges. The report
says the compensation of judges is not
a subject TO be dealt with in a consti-