Court rules that 46 older judges can stay, moving case to appellate showdown
New York court leaders violated the state constitution when they decided to summarily terminate 46 older judges across the state, a Suffolk County Supreme Court justice ruled Dec. 30.
The decision by Justice Paul Baisley extends a career lifeline to judges over 70 who were denied recertification in a cost-cutting move by Office of Court Administration leadership. After Gov. Cuomo ordered the court system to slash 10 percent of its budget, or $300 million, OCA leaders sought to deny new two-year terms to 46 of 49 judges seeking recertification.
Two groups of judges, some in Appellate Division and others in state Supreme Court, sued to reverse the decision, claiming the move was age discrimination and would impede the court system.