On Wednesday, November 1, 2023, the Executive Committee of the Manhattan Democratic Party unanimously adopted the following resolution in favor of the ‘No Cap Act’ (A05366) sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Alex Bores.
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WHEREAS, the ‘No Cap Act’ (A05366), introduced in the New York State Assembly by Assemblymember Alex Bores, removes the limit on Supreme Court Justices by population in New York State; and
WHEREAS, this one-line amendment to the New York State Constitution would strike the current cap of one judge allotted per 50,000 residents, a limit first imposed in 1925; and
WHEREAS, the complexity and volume of cases before the 1st Judicial District, serving New York County, today is far beyond what any lawmaker could have imagined during the Coolidge Administration; and
WHEREAS, this amendment seeks to address the immense case backlog The Supreme Court of the State of New York faces, particularly in Manhattan, where we have long been at the maximum number of justices and desperately need the opportunity to appoint more; and
WHEREAS, the status quo, in which the 1st Judicial District has been forced to borrow judges from other jurisdictions to help alleviate this snowballing burden, is untenable; and
WHEREAS, as representatives of our community, we know there is a real human cost to the growing case backlog, as those awaiting trial are stuck in limbo as court, legal fees pile up, divorce cases linger unresolved wreaking havoc on families, and the victims of crimes, and their loved ones, experience sleepless nights as they seek resolution; and
WHEREAS, this legislation, which has now passed the New York State Senate with overwhelming support, carried by Judiciary Committee Chair Senator Hoylman-Sigal, is a necessary measure long overdue which we cannot afford to delay further; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, as the Executive Committee of the New York County Democratic Committee, we affirm our support for Assemblymember Bores’ No Cap Act (A05366), and urge the New York State Assembly to bring to a vote this critical legislative relief for our overtaxed judicial system, for we know justice delayed – is justice denied.