New York Courts to expand judicial training with focus on bail laws

April 15, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Under Chief Judge Rowan Wilson and Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas, the judges of New York State will undergo more training on bail and discovery laws. Photo courtesy of NYS Court of Appeals

Share this:

The New York State court system has announced an expansion of its judicial education program for 2024, aimed at enhancing judges’ understanding of bail and securing orders.

Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas outlined the initiative’s goal to deepen knowledge of bail laws for judges handling criminal cases.

“In my role as chief administrator of the courts, I am proud to place a renewed emphasis on meaningful education and training opportunities, especially training on an issue, like bail, that is so important to the fair and equitable functioning of our criminal justice system,” said Chief Administrative Judge Zayas.

“That the stellar educational programs delivered to our new judges at the Judicial Institute this year have been augmented by an extra emphasis on bail issues will benefit not only those individuals appearing before the courts but all New Yorkers,” he added.

Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas. Photo courtesy of NYS Unified Court System

Following an administrative mandate by Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, new benchmarks for judicial training were set, emphasizing rigorous training on bail law for both new and experienced judges. This is meant to ensure they are current with legislative and case law changes.

Judges newly appointed or assigned to criminal courts will undergo four hours of bail law education in their first year, with the program adjusting for judges in subsequent years. The curriculum also includes training on discovery in criminal cases, focusing on the judiciary’s discretion in sanctioning discovery violations.

The New York State Judicial Institute, established in 2003, will lead the training efforts. Its curriculum will now integrate bail training into its year-round educational offerings. These include summer seminars, in-person trainings and virtual continuing education courses.

“These programs aim to more effectively support the New York State Courts’ dedicated, hardworking judges in their daily efforts to analyze complex questions of law and fact before rendering impartial decisions that promote the fair administration of justice throughout our great state,” said First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George.

The initiative begins with the annual New Judges Seminar in White Plains, addressing a wide range of legal topics, including recent changes to bail and discovery laws.