Judicial Elections II

How Judges are Chosen for NY Courts

State of New York Court of Appeals
The seven judges of the New York Court of Appeals are selected through the assisted appointment method. The governor appoints each new judge from a list of qualified nominees submitted by a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by the New York State Senate. [2][3]
Judges serve 14-year terms. To remain on the court, a judge must be renominated by the governor and reconfirmed by the Senate. Judges must retire at the end of the year in which they turn 70 years old; however, retired judges may serve until the end of the year in which they turn 76 years old if they are certified as competent every two years. [2][3]

Qualifications
To serve on this court, a person must be a resident of New York and must have been admitted to practice law in New York for at least 10 years. [2][3]

Chief judge
The chief judge of the court of appeals is selected through the same assisted appointment method as other judges on the court and serves in that role for a full term. The position of chief judge is a specific seat on the court rather than a temporary leadership position. [2][3]

Vacancies
See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts
Midterm vacancies are filled by assisted appointment. The governor appoints a new judge from a list of qualified nominees submitted by a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by the New York State Senate. The newly appointed judge serves a full 14-year term. [2][3]

New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
The justices of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division are appointed by the governor from among the justices of the New York Supreme Court. As established by executive order in 2011, the governor must appoint justices to the appellate division from a list of recommendations supplied by a judicial screening committee. [2][3][4]
Appellate division justices serve five-year terms, or until the end of their supreme court term, whichever comes first. Justices are retained using the same appointment process, and subsequent
terms are also five years. 
Supreme court justices must retire at the end of the year in which they turn 70 years old; however, retired justices may serve until the end of the year in which they turn 76 years old if they are certified as competent every two years. [2][3]

Qualifications
To serve on this court, a person must be a resident of New York, must have been admitted to practice law in New York for at least 10 years, and must be at least 18 years old. [2]

Presiding justices
The presiding justice of each appellate division is appointed by the governor from supreme court justices recommended by the judicial screening committee. The presiding justice serves in that capacity for the duration of his or her term. [2][3][4]

Vacancies
Midterm vacancies are filled by the same appointment method used at the expiration of a full term.
The governor appoints justices to the appellate division from a list of recommendations supplied by a judicial screening committee. [2][3]

Supreme Court of the State of New York
The justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York are elected to 14-year terms in partisan elections. Candidates are selected at partisan nominating conventions to appear on the general election ballot. [2][3][5]

To serve additional terms, justices must run for re-election. Justices must retire at the end of the year in which they turn 70 years old; however, retired justices may serve until the end of the year in which they turn 76 years old if they are certified as competent every two years. [2][3]

Qualifications
To serve on this court, a person must be a resident of New York, must have been admitted to practice law in New York for at least 10 years, and must be at least 18 years old. [2]

Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor must appoint a justice from a list of recommendations supplied by a judicial screening committee. [4]  The appointment must be confirmed by the state Senate. An election must be held for the seat at the next general election occurring at least three months after the vacancy occurred. [2][3]
New York County Courts Judges of the New York County Courts are elected in partisan elections to 10-year terms. [2][1]
To serve additional terms, justices must run for re-election. Justices must retire at the end of the year in which they turn 70 years old. [2][3]

Qualifications
To serve on this court, a person must be a county and state resident, must have been admitted to practice law in New York for at least five years, and must be at least 18 years old. [2]

Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor must appoint a judge from a list of recommendations supplied by a judicial screening committee. [4]  The appointment must be confirmed by the state Senate. An election must be held for the seat at the next general election occurring at least three months after the vacancy occurred. [2][3]

Limited jurisdiction courts
New York has eight types of limited jurisdiction courts: New York Court of Claims, New York Family Courts, New York Surrogates’ Courts, New York City Civil Court, New York City Criminal Courts, New York District Courts, New York City Courts, and New York Town and Village Courts. [6][1]

New York Court of Claims
Judges of the New York Court of Claims are appointed to nine-year terms by the governor of New York and must be confirmed by the New York State Senate. To serve on this court, a person must be a state resident, must be at least 18 years old, and must have been admitted to practice law in the state for at least 10 years. This court has a mandatory retirement age of 70 years. [6][1]

New York Family Courts
In counties outside of New York City, judges of the New York Family Courts are elected in partisan elections to 10-year terms. In New York City counties, they are appointed by the mayor of New York City to 10-year terms. To serve on this court, a person must be a state and county resident, must be at least 18 years old, and must have been admitted to practice law in the state for at least 10 years. This court has a mandatory retirement age of 70 years. [6][1]

New York Surrogates’ Courts
Judges of the New York Surrogates’ Courts are elected in partisan elections.

Outside of New York
City counties, surrogates’ court judges serve 10-year terms. In New York City counties, they serve 14-year terms. To serve on this court, a person must be a state and county resident, must be at least 18 years old, and must have been admitted to practice law in the state for at least 10 years. This
court has a mandatory retirement age of 70 years. [6][1]

New York City Civil Court
Judges of the New York City Civil Court are elected to 10-year terms in partisan elections, with the
following exception: Judges of the New York City Housing Court are appointed to five-year terms by
the Chief Administrative Judge of the State of New York. To serve on this court, a person must be a
resident of New York State and New York City, must be at least 18 years old, and must have been admitted to practice law in the state for at least 10 years. This court has a mandatory retirement age
of 70 years. [6][1][7]

New York City Criminal Courts
See also: New York City Criminal Courts
Judges of the New York City Criminal Courts are appointed to 10-year terms by the mayor of New York City. To serve on this court, a person must be a resident of New York State and New York City, must be at least 18 years old, and must have been admitted to practice law in the state for at least 10 years. This court has a mandatory retirement age of 70 years. [6][1]

New York District Courts
Judges of the New York District Courts are elected to six-year terms in partisan elections. To serve on this court, a person must be a state and county resident, must be at least 18 years old, and must have been admitted to practice law in the state for at least five years. This court has a mandatory
retirement age of 70 years. [6][1]

New York City Courts
See also: New York City Courts
Judicial selection methods for New York City Courts vary by city; judges may be elected or appointed. The term for full-time judges is 10 years, and the term for part-time judges is six years. To serve on this court, a person must be a resident of the city and state, must be at least 18 years old, and must
have been admitted to practice law in the state for at least five years. This court has a mandatory retirement age of 70 years. [6][1]

New York Town and Village Courts
See also: New York Town and Village Courts
Judges of the New York Town and Village Courts are elected to four-year terms in partisan elections. To serve on this court, a person must be a state resident and a resident of the town or village and must be at least 18 years old. If not an attorney, judges must participate in a certification process and
continuing education. [6][1]