Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Opinion 15-48

NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics

Magistrates’ Association

Public Resolution – Justice Court Funding

Opinion 15-48

Background: A part-time judge, who is an officer of a magistrates’ association, asks if the association may publicly support a resolution titled “increase justice court funding.” The resolution calls for amending the General Municipal Law to increase the amount of money reimbursed to towns and villages for processing Vehicle and Traffic Law tickets, in order to assist local taxpayers in funding justice court operational expenses.

Opinion: The committee concluded that a magistrates’ association may publicly support a resolution urging a legislative change to assist local taxpayers in funding their local justice courts.