A statewide coalition of immigration and family law experts compiled a series of legal reference guides in 2017 on the complex intersection of family court issues and federal immigration laws, policy, and enforcement. We have updated these guides in 2024 with current guidance.
These legal reference guides are created for all who use the courts. We focus on providing members of the NYS judiciary and court personnel with an accessible resource that presents the important role of state court judges. The materials are also useful for attorneys, community organizations, nonprofits, government agencies and the public.
New Protocols Aim to Reduce Felony Case Delays.
October 10, 2024
NEW YORK CITY—Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas and First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George today announced a series of innovations in court operations to help expedite the processing of felony cases and reduce unnecessary delays in New York City’s criminal courts, enhancing both fairness and public safety.
Chief among these new measures are protocols to more effectively and efficiently oversee the discovery process at every stage, identify and resolve obstacles to ensure that cases are trial-ready, and monitor timelines throughout the progression of the case.
The Fund for Modern Courts mourns the passing of Michael A. Cardozo, a longtime board member, former Chair, and revered leader in New York’s legal community and court reform movement.
Michael brought to our work the same unwavering commitment to justice, ethical leadership, and public service that defined his remarkable career. From his tenure as the longest serving Corporation Counsel in the history of the City of New York to his presidency of the New York City Bar Association to his years of board service with Modern Courts, he modeled what it means to serve with integrity and impact.
Michael was a tireless advocate for the independence and integrity of New York’s judiciary. His groundbreaking efforts in the 1970s led to the merit-based appointment system for the New York Court of Appeals, a transformative achievement that continues to shape our highest court. As Chair of the Commission on Legislative, Judicial and Executive Compensation, he was a steadfast champion for fair and appropriate judicial salaries, recognizing that a strong judiciary depends on attracting and retaining exceptional judges. Throughout his distinguished career, Michael was unwavering in his commitment to the vital role of judges and the judiciary in upholding justice and the rule of law.
Michael was a trusted advisor – always ready with thoughtful insight, a historical perspective, and wise counsel – and a treasured mentor to generations of young lawyers. We are grateful for the indelible mark he left on our organization and on the pursuit of justice across New York. Our deepest condolences go to his family and all who knew him.
May Michael’s memory be a blessing and his legacy continue to guide us.
Give to the Fund for Modern Courts in Memory of Michael A. Cardozo
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 6, 2025
The Fund for Modern Courts urges the three candidates for Mayor of New York City to commit to continuing the commission-based appointment process for judges, including participation of the highly respected New York City Bar Association. This process, developed by Mayor Koch and fully honored by Mayors Dinkins, Bloomberg, and De Blasio, has ensured that judicial appointments reflect integrity, fairness, and independence.
Since Mayor Koch, each mayor has pledged to appoint judges only from candidates approved by both the Mayor’s Committee on the Judiciary and the New York City Bar Association. The mayor appoints roughly half the members of the Mayor’s Committee but has no role in selecting the City Bar members, who conduct their own independent review. This dual system is critical: it insulates judicial selection from pure politics and assures New Yorkers that their judges are chosen through rigorous, independent evaluation.
Mayor Giuliani breached the commitment in his second term with two appointments, and Mayor Adams, after initially honoring the practice, excluded the City Bar earlier this year. While the Mayor’s Committee continues to recommend candidates with some community representation, exclusion of the City Bar undermines the integrity of the process. The City Bar’s participation adds an essential layer of objectivity because it is wholly independent of the mayor and has long served as a respected evaluator of judicial qualifications.
New Yorkers deserve judges whose appointments are not solely political. The participation of the City Bar is indispensable to ensuring that judicial appointments maintain the highest standards of fairness and public trust.
About the Fund for Modern Courts
The Fund for Modern Courts is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving New York’s court system and strengthening judicial independence, integrity, and access to justice.
Contact
Denise Kronstadt, Executive Director
Fund for Modern Courts
kronstadt@moderncourts.org | (845) 664-0200