New York State Department of State Certificates of Designation of Judges

Chronological.

The governor had the authority to appoint a judge or a justice to the supreme court if a position became vacant before expiration of a regular term. This authority was conferred on the government by the State Constitution of 1846. The governor was given the authority (L. 1848, Ch. 379) to appoint extraordinary general and special terms, circuit courts, and courts of oyer and termines whenever in his judgment "the public good shall require it." This same chapter also required that all appointments of judges and court terms be filed with the secretary of state, who was required to publish them. After 1905, the governor's Certificates of Designation of Judges were filed along with the "Assignment of Judges and Court Terms for the State Supreme Court."

This series consists of executive orders signed by the governor and his private secretary designating extraordinary court terms and assigning judges to preside over these terms, or appointing a judge or justice to the court of appeals or the supreme court. Each certificate designating a court term specifies the type, location, and date of the term, as well as the name of the judge assigned to the term.

Series B0061, Assignments of judges and court terms for the state Supreme Court, contains the governor's certificates of designation of judges filed after 1905.

Container list.

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