Justice In Time: Rye Gets Approval From NY To Add Judges

Rye, NY - With the Rye courts set to take over the court responsibilities for the Village of Port Chester starting on May 15th, the town has won additional support from Albany. Legislation sponsored by State Senator Shelley B. Mayer (SD-37) and Assemblyman Steve Otis (AD-91) will allow the Rye town court to expand.

Approval of the request means that the Rye court will be permitted to add two additional justices, doubling the number of judges currently on the bench, before assuming the duties of the Village of Port Chester courts. The village voted to dissolve its court system last year and to shift that burden to Rye starting this May.

"The Town of Rye is committed to being ready on May 15th to fully address the caseload sent their way," State Assemblyman Steve Otis said in a statement announcing the legislation’s passage. "This legislation allows them to implement their plan to provide for a seamless transition. Supervisor Zuckerman, the Town Board and their sitting justices have developed a plan to meet the community’s needs."

The passage of the measure will allow Rye to appoint the judges immediately. The jurists will initially be given two-year terms to ensure no more than two judges are up for re-election at the same time. The legislation also officially recognizes the Town of Rye court’s jurisdiction over the Village of Port Chester.

"The Town of Rye is extremely pleased that, through the efforts of Assemblyman Steve Otis and State Senator Shelley Mayer, we were able to secure two additional judges for the Rye Town Justice Court," Town of Rye Supervisor Gary Zuckerman said in a statement lauding the statehouse approval. "With the dissolution of the Port Chester Justice Court effective this coming May 15, the caseload of the Town Court will increase exponentially. The elimination of Port Chester's three judges because of such dissolution would have presented an overwhelming situation for our two Town Judges."