BILL NUMBER: S5626

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the uniform justice court act, in
relation to allowing justices of criminal courts in the county of Madi-
son to preside in any court for the limited purposes of arraignments and
appearance proceedings pursuant to a bench warrant

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill allows justices of criminal courts in the county of Madison to
preside as the justice of their court anywhere in the county for the
limited purpose of arraignment or appearance proceedings.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

A new subdivision 12 is added to Section 106 of the uniform justice
court act to allow judges in Madison County to conduct arraignment or
appearance proceedings in any Madison County courtroom when possible or
in a suitable municipal facility open to the public anywhere in the
county, provided that the municipality providing such facilities consent
              

to such usage.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill allows Madison County to enact a centralized arraignment
system similar to that currently in place in Onondaga County, producing
a more efficient arraignment process that will not leave people waiting
for long hours while waiting for a judge. The system allows for off-
hours processing of detained persons. By allowing judges to preside at a
centralized arraignment location, rather than their specific local
Courthouses, detained people will be seen by a judge more quickly and
have better access to counsel, while also reducing the administrative
costs of the county courts. By doing so, Madison County will be able to
comply with Supreme Court and NYS Court of Appeals rulings unequivocally
affirming that the right to counsel attaches to the arraignment process.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the state.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.