State Senator Gipson Announces Bill for Additional Family Court Judge for Dutchess Passes Legislature

For Immediate Release: June 20, 2014
Media Contact: Jonathan Heppner | 845.463.0840 | heppner@nysenate.gov

STATE SENATOR GIPSON ANNOUNCES BILL FOR ADDITIONAL FAMILY COURT JUDGE FOR DUTCHESS PASSES LEGISLATURE

ALBANY, NY – State Senator Terry Gipson (D-Dutchess, Putnam) announced that the State Senate has passed legislation, S.7883, which will create an additional Family Court Judge position for Dutchess County. The legislation has also passed the Assembly and awaits Governor Cuomo’s signature to become law.

State Senator Terry Gipson (D-Dutchess, Putnam) stated: “An additional Family Court Judge in Dutchess County is an important necessity that will improve the court’s ability to best serve our children and families. This effort will also save the state and county additional costs as a result of delayed dockets due to an inadequate number of judges to handle the heavy caseload. I’ve been proud to work with Assembly members Didi Barrett, Kevin Cahill and Frank Skartados to strongly advocate for this new position and greatly appreciate their hard work and continued partnership."

​Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Hudson) stated: “Dutchess County needs an additional family court judge to alleviate the overloaded family court system which has led too many cases to take far too long to adjudicate.  It is our responsibility to ensure that children, families, and victims of domestic violence in the county are not put at risk, made to miss days of work or extremely inconvenienced because the courts cannot function in an efficient manner.  I thank my colleagues, especially Senator Terry Gipson, for all of their hard work on this issue.”

Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster, Dutchess) stated: “The cases that come to Family Court represent some of the most important cases in our society.  When a delinquent teen can be set on the right path instead of the road to correctional facility or when a victim of domestic violence can participate in a legal system which understands their specific concerns, we have succeeded in our job as legislators to create an environment for justice.  I’m proud to have worked with Senator Gipson on this legislation which will allow more people in the community I represent to have their cases heard in a timely manner.”

Assemblymember Frank Skartados (D-Ulster, Orange, Dutchess) stated: “It is unacceptable when a family that is in crisis has to wait six months before a judge can hear the case. This bill will provide our hard working family court judges with the help they need, so distressed families can move on with their lives.”