Opinion ID: 2481385
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Integrated Domestic Violence Parts

Text: In January 2004, after consultation with the Administrative Board and with the consent of the Court of Appeals, the Chief Judge of the State of New York promulgated part 41 of the Rules of the Chief Judge providing for the establishment of Integrated Domestic Violence (IDV) Parts in Supreme Court. The rule directed that the specialized part be devoted to the hearing and determination, in a single forum, of cases that are simultaneously pending in the courts if one of them is a domestic violence case in a criminal court and the other is a case in Supreme or Family Court that involves a party or witness in the domestic violence case; or if one is a case in criminal court, Family Court or Supreme Court and the other is a case in any other of these courts having a common party or in which a disposition may affect the interests of a party in the first case (22 NYCRR 41.1 [a] [1]). The intent of the IDV directive was to allow matters involving a single family to be resolved in one court by the same jurist, thereby eliminating fragmented judicial adjudication and relieving the parties of the burden and costs of having multiple actions pending in different courts. In addition to streamlining the litigation process for litigants and providing better access to community services for families, the new IDV Parts also increased judicial efficiency by avoiding duplication of effort by multiple courts, reducing scheduling conflicts and avoiding inconsistent outcomes. Soon after the Chief Judge issued part 41, the Chief Administrative Judge implemented the new rule by adopting part 141 of the Rules of the Chief Administrator of the Courts, which defined those IDV-eligible cases subject to transfer to Supreme Court. Under part 141, cases that meet the criteria are sent to an IDV Part where, within five days, the cases are screened to determine whether transfer will promote the administration of justice. If so, a formal transfer order is issued and the case is retained by the IDV Part for disposition. If not, the case is returned to the originating court. There are currently 44 Supreme Court IDV Parts in New York State.