01 Nov 2023
Joint Public Hearing: To conduct oversight of the Family Court throughout the State, including its resources, operations, and outcomes
Senate Hearing Room250 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, NY, 10007
10:00 AM to 05:40 PM Archived Video
Joint – Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Chair: Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal
and Senate Standing Committee on Children and Families
Chair: Senator Jabari Brisport
Public Hearing: To conduct oversight of the Family Court throughout the State, including its resources, operations, and outcomes
Place: Senate Hearing Room, 250 Broadway, 19th Floor, NY, NY 10007
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Contact: Kenan Kurt (212) 633-8052
Media Contact: Kat Capossela (212) 633-8052
ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY
NOTICE OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARING
SUBJECT: New York State Family Court
PURPOSE: To conduct oversight of the Family Court throughout the State, including its resources, operations, and outcomes.
Family Court is many New Yorkers’ first or only interaction with the legal system. Its jurisdiction includes adoption, guardianship, foster care, delinquency, persons in need of supervision (PINS), domestic violence, child protective proceedings, parental rights, custody and visitation, and child support. The Family Court overwhelmingly serves indigent litigants and people of color, and, according to Special Adviser on Equal Justice in the Courts Jeh Johnson, it is perceived as a “second-class court” that is “dehumanizing” with a “cattle-call culture.”
Last year, the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission of the New York State Courts confirmed Special Adviser Johnson’s findings and called for increased resources, procedural reforms, culture changes, and more in the Family Court. This hearing will build upon the Special Adviser’s and Williams Commission’s reports by conducting thorough oversight of all aspects of the Family Court, including but not limited to its resources, operations, culture, outcomes, and the appointment and supervision of judges.
Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.
Oral testimony will be limited to five minutes duration. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.
Attendees and participants at any legislative public hearing should be aware that these proceedings are video recorded. Their likenesses may be included in any video coverage shown on television or the internet.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Committees, in accordance with their policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), have made their facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to State Legislature facilities and activities.
