The Text

The electors of the several towns shall, at their annual town meetings, or at such other time and in such manner as the legislature may direct, elect justices of the peace, whose term of office shall be four years. In case of an election to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of a full term, they shall hold for the remainder of the unexpired term. Their number, classification and duties shall be regulated by law. Justices of the peace, justices of the municipal court of the city of New York, and judges or justices of inferior courts not of record, and their clerks, may be removed for cause, after due notice and an opportunity of being heard, by such courts as are or may be prescribed by law. All other judicial officers in cities, whose election or appointment is not otherwise provided for in this article, including all judicial officers holding courts of special sessions, magistrates’ courts, or other inferior local courts of criminal jurisdiction in the city of New York, shall be chosen by the electors of such cities, or appointed by some local authorities thereof as may be prescribed by law. The boards of supervisors, or other officials exercising power now vested in such boards, may fix the compensation to be paid or allowed to justices of the peace for their services in criminal matters; but the powers or duties in criminal matters now exercised by justices of the peace may be transferred by law to inferior local courts of criminal jurisdiction, the territorial jurisdiction of which outside of cities may be defined by the respective boards of supervisors.