Directs the legislature to ensure that the number of judges and justices in districts and courts is sufficient; directs the chief administrator of the courts to report on the sufficiency of the number of judges and justices in each court and to make recommendations on such numbers.
Allows for justices to reside in any town, village or city contained in whole or in part within the same assembly district as the court such justice serves or in an assembly district contiguous to such municipality where the court is located; authorizes towns and villages to require that any person who serves as a town or village justice be admitted to practice law in the state.
Requires judges or justices in a court that exercises criminal jurisdiction, including town and village justices, family court judges, and justices of the supreme court who regularly handle matrimonial matters, and court clerks of such courts to attend a program approved by the chief administrator of the courts addressing issues relating to domestic violence totaling at least ten hours every two years; requires law enforcement officers to complete ten hours of domestic violence training every two years.
Allows for justices to reside in any town, village or city contained in whole or in part within the same assembly district as the court such justice serves or in an assembly district contiguous to such municipality where the court is located; authorizes towns and villages to require that any person who serves as a town or village justice be admitted to practice law in the state.
Expands the civil jurisdiction of county courts to matters of up to fifty thousand dollars and district courts to matters of up to thirty-five thousand dollars.