Contacts — Coalition Co-Chairs:
Stephanie Gendell: (646) 232-6721 sgendell@cccnewyork.org
Denise Kronstadt: (845) 664-0200 justice@moderncourts.org
Coalition of Over 110 Organizations Applauds Legislature and Urges Governor Cuomo to Sign the Bill
The New York State Legislature passed S7883/A10139, a bill that adds 25 more Family Court Judges statewide. The over 100 members of the New York State Coalition for More Family Court Judges are extremely grateful to the Legislature for recognizing the overwhelming need for more Family Court Judges to reduce the delays children, victims of violence and families are currently facing.
The bill adds 20 Family Court Judges starting January 2015: 9 in New York City (at least one per borough) and 1 Judge in the counties of Albany, Broome, Chautauqua, Franklin, Nassau, Oneida, Oswego, Schenectady, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester. The bill adds 5 more Family Court Judges to begin January 1, 2016 with one additional Judge in Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Monroe and Warren Counties.
“After many years of waiting, the needs of the children and families served by the Family Court have finally been heard. For far too long, the most important decisions in the lives of families throughout the State have been at the mercy of an overburdened Family Court system. Once the Governor signs this bill into law, elections and appointments for the new Judgeships can begin, and we can start to make real progress in reducing case times for these families. On behalf of the thousands of children and families represented by the over 100 members of the NYS Coalition for More Family Court Judges, I can say that today is a great day for New York’s children and families!” said Stephanie Gendell, Co-Chair of the New York State Coalition for More Family Court Judges and Associate Executive Director for Policy and Government Relations at Citizens’ Committee for Children.
“When signed into law, the bill would achieve the largest investment in Family Court in 50 years, since the Family Court first was established in 1962. The New York State Coalition for More Family Court Judges appreciates the bipartisan support in both houses for this legislation. The Coalition is extremely grateful to Senator John Bonacic and Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, Judiciary Chairs in their respective houses, for their tremendous leadership in this effort. We look forward to the Governor signing the bill into law,” said Denise Kronstadt, Co-Chair of the New York State Coalition for More Family Court Judges and Deputy Executive Director/Director of Advocacy at the Fund for Modern Courts.
The New York State Coalition for More Family Court Judges is a coalition of over 100 organizations from all across New York State that has come together to ensure that New York State provides for more resources for Family Courts, including at least 20 more Family Court Judges statewide to provide justice for families.
New York State Coalition for More Family Court Judges
- Vivian Fox, President, 1199 Child Care Corporation
- Assigned Counsel/Attorney for Children Panel, Kings County Family Court
- Association of the Assigned Counsel of Queens Family Court
- Bronx County Bar Association
- Bronx Defenders
- Bronx Family Court Bar Association
- Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project
- Brooklyn Defender Services
- CASA of Rockland County, Inc.
- CASA of the Southern Tier, Inc.
- CASA-NYC
- CASA-NYS
- Center for Community Justice
- Center for Family Representation
- Child & Family Services
- Child and Family Services Haven House
- Children’s Defense Fund – New York
- The Children’s Law Center
- Child Welfare Organizing Project
- Child Welfare Services, Westchester Institute for Human Development
- The Children’s Agenda
- The Children’s Aid Society
- Children’s Rights
- Citizens’ Committee for Children
- Committee for Hispanic Children and Families
- The Committee for Modern Courts
- Correctional Association of New York
- Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies
- Courts in Crisis
- Day One
- The Door
- Empire Justice Center
- Episcopal Social Services of New York
- Equinox
- Erie County Coalition Against Family Violence
- Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
- Forestdale, Inc.
- Good Shepherd Services
- Graham Windham
- Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York, Inc. (HALANY)
- Her Justice
- Hiscock Legal Aid Society
- Hope’s Door
- Human Services Council
- Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services
- Jewish Child Care Association
- Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York
- Lawyers For Children
- League of Women Voters of Broome and Tioga Counties
- League of Women Voters of the City of New York
- League of Women Voters of New York State (LWVNYS)
- League of Women Voters of Schenectady County
- League of Women Voters of Smithtown (Suffolk County)
- Leake and Watts
- The Legal Aid Society of New York
- Legal Information for Families Today
- The Legal Project
- Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled or Disadvantaged of Western NY, Inc.
- The Lineage Project
- Long Islanders for Youth (LIFY)
- Mediation Matters
- MercyFirst
- MFY Legal Services
- National Center for Access to Justice
- The Network of Bar Leaders
- New York Asian Women’s Center
- New York Center for Juvenile Justice
- New York City Anti-Violence Project
- New York City Council General Welfare Chair, Stephen Levin
- New York Foundling
- New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
- New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV)
- New York State Court Officers Association
- New York State LGBTQ Domestic Violence Network
- New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children
- Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp.
- NYU Family Defense Clinic
- The Osborne Association
- Pace Women’s Justice Center
- Probono.net
- RISE – Broome County
- Safe Horizon
- Safe Space NYC
- St. Catherine’s Center for Children
- The Safe Center LI, Inc.
- Sanctuary for Families
- Sauti Yetu Center for African Women
- Schenectady Community Action Program, Inc.
- Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA)
- Sepa Mujer
- Staten Island Women’s Bar Association
- United Neighborhood Houses
- Unity House of Troy, Inc.
- Urban Justice Center, Domestic Violence Project
- Treat Me Right, Inc.
- Vanderheyden
- Vera House, Inc.
- VIBS Family Violence & Rape Crisis Center
- Violence Intervention Program, Inc.
- Voices of Women Organizing Project (VOW)
- Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County, Inc.
- Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County, Inc.
- The Washbourne House
- Westchester Children’s Association
- Western New York Law Center
- Worker Justice Center of New York, Inc.
- You Gotta Believe!
- Youth Represent
- YWCA of Northeastern New York
Website: http://moderncourts.org/advocacy/family-court-reform/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYSCoalitionformorefamilycourtjudges
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