New York State Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary Issue Files

Alphabetical by topic.

The Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary deals with virtually all legislation affecting New York State's judicial system. The Committee works closely with the Office of Court Administration, and is involved in many areas of substantive law.

This series consists of correspondence and memoranda; draft and final versions of new legislation; copies of sections of statutes from New York, other states, and the federal government; court opinions; background reports by Committee and Assembly staff and others; memoranda in support or opposition to legislation submitted to the Committee from Assembly members, senators, or the governor; Committee staff notes; newspaper clippings; and a journal (1977-1987) relating to issues and proposed legislation considered by the Committee.

Approximately two-thirds of the records relate to proposed legislation in areas of court administration and the various aspects of court reorganization, and to the development of the state's unified court system. Topics include court reform, court selection and salaries, code of evidence, the use of cameras in the courtroom, and sentencing guidelines. The remaining one-third of the records relate primarily to proposed changes in the state's Domestic Relations Law, issues of surrogate parenting, and the Equitable Distribution Law, which deals with alimony, spouse maintenance, and child support. Other topics documented in the records include adoption procedures, child custody disputes, community dispute resolution centers, guardianships, and estates and trusts law.

Also included in the series is material from members of New York's judiciary and from the Chief Judge to judges in local courts and from local government officials and district attorneys. Materials in support or in opposition to legislation, submitted by national, state, and local bar associations and other groups interested in the various issues being considered by the Committee, are also found in the series.

L0175-90: Container list is available at the repository.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.