The Text

The existing county courts are continued, and the judges thereof now in office shall hold their offices until the expiration of their respective terms except that the county courts in the counties of Kings, Queens, Richmond and Bronx shall be abolished and the county judges transferred as provided in this article. The number of county judges in any county may be increased, from time to time, by the legislature, to such number that the total number of county judges in any one county shall not exceed one for every two hundred thousand, or major fraction thereof, of the population of such county. The additional county judges whose offices may be created by the legislature shall be chosen at the general election held in the first odd-numbered year after the creation of such office. All county judges, including successors to existing judges, shall be chosen by the electors of the counties for the term of six years from and including the first day of January following their election. Except as in this article otherwise provided county courts shall have the powers and jurisdiction now prescribed by the legislature, and also original jurisdiction in actions for the recovery of money only, where all the defendants reside in the county, and in which the complaint demands judgment for a sum not exceeding three thousand dollars. The legislature may hereafter enlarge or restrict the jurisdiction of the county courts, provided, however, that their jurisdiction shall not be so extended as to authorize an action therein for the recovery of money only, in which (1) the sum demanded exceeds three thousand dollars, or (2) in which any person not a resident of the county is a defendant, unless such defendant have an office for the transaction of business within the county and the cause of action arose therein. Every county judge and special county judge in counties having the same shall perform such duties as may he required by law. His salary shall be established by law, payable out of the county treasury. A, county judge of any county may hold county courts in any other county when requested by the judge of such other county.