Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins: Senate Approves Bill to Provide Additional Family Court Judge in Westchester County

            State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/WF – 35^th District) announced that the Senate has approved legislation that provides for additional family court judges throughout New York State, including one additional family court judge for Westchester County.  Senate bill 5968 was approved with bipartisan support.

            “The Family Court system is seriously backlogged and families have been forced to wait months before their cases are heard,” stated Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.  “In custody, support, adoption, and abuse cases, time is of the essence and because of the lack of additional family court judges, timeliness has not been the norm.  This bill will change that.”

            Senate bill 5968 creates 21 additional Family Court judgeships.  Seven new judgeships will be created for New York City and one new judgeship will be created in each of the following counties:  Albany, Broome, Chautaqua, Chemung, Erie, Monroe, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Oswego, Schenectady, Suffolk, and Westchester.

            “I was pleased to support this critical bill as it will help to ease the burden in Westchester County family court and will help to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens, our children,” concluded Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

The measure is awaiting action in the Assembly.