NYS Supreme Court Justices

Job Description

The Supreme Courts of NYC are part of the NY State Unified Court System, and are sub-divided into counties (corresponding to the 5 boroughs). Each county has a separate civil and criminal part of the court, but for Richmond County (Staten Island) which has these parts merged.

We only directly vote for Supreme Court judges in the General Election, as the major parties each nominate judges via a Judicial Nominating Convention. Registered voters of the major parties nominate delegates that go on to serve in the convention to select the party nominees who will be on the ballot for the General Election.

Powers and Responsibilities
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Hears certain cases in the county/district’s Civil and Criminal Parts of the NYC Supreme Court.
Supervises and provides guidance or decisions as civil cases unfold, in these phases:
Supervises and provides guidance or decisions as the criminal cases unfold, in these phases:
Serves either in the district where she/he was elected, or is eligible to be appointed by the Governor to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, or assigned by the Chief Administrator of the Courts to the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court.

About Supreme Court Vacancies

In 2017, there are vacancies for a number of positions in four counties, so voters can select multiple candidates on the ballot.

Bronx County – Judicial District 12: voters can “Vote for 4”
Kings County – Judicial District 2: voters can “Vote for 2”
New York County – Judicial District 1: voters can “Vote for 6”
Queens County: Judicial District 11: voters can “Vote for 6”

Supreme Court + City Council Party Nominations

In 2017, two city council districts saw candidates petitioning to run for council member on party lines, then receiving nominations for Supreme Court and vacating the council race, clearing the way for other candidates to take the city council party nominations.

In City Council District 30, Joseph Kasper petitioned as a Republican candidate for City Council, was given a Supreme Court nomination in the Republican Party for Kings County. This allowed Robert Holden, who lost the Democratic nomination, to receive the Republican line for Council District 30.
In City Council District 43, John J. Bruno, who petitioned on as an Independence and Conservative party candidate, was given a Supreme Court nomination for the Republican and Conservative parties in Kings County. The allowed the Republican nominee, John Quaglione, to also receive the Conservative and Independence party lines for Council District 43.