New York

New York’s highest court is the Court of Appeals of New York. The court has six associate judges and one chief judge. The chief judge is appointed according to the same procedures as the associate judges. (Source: New York Constitution)

Judicial Selection

The governor nominates a Court of Appeals judge from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. The governor’s nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. An appointed judge serves a 14-year term. Judges may stand for reappointment to additional 14-year terms in the same appointment process. To fill an interim vacancy, the governor nominates a candidate from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. The nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the state senate. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 70.

State Constitution

New York has had four state constitutions adopted between 1777 and 1894. As of January 1, 2024, it had 233 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)