Authorizes the towns of Ellington and Charlotte in Chautauqua county to elect a single town justice to preside in the town courts of such towns

2025 Regular Session

Authorizes Ellington and Charlotte to elect a single town justice to preside over both towns’ town courts.

REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Bill overview

Bill: A 11483

Session: 2025-2026

Jurisdiction: New York

Title: Authorizes the towns of Ellington and Charlotte in Chautauqua County to elect a single town justice to preside in the town courts of such towns

Introduced by: Committee on Rules (at request of Assembly Member Molitor)

Status: Referred to Local Governments (as of May 27, 2026)

Purpose and intent

The bill authorizes the towns of Ellington and Charlotte, located in Chautauqua County, to move from having separate town justices to electing a single town justice to preside over both towns’ town courts.

It follows a process outlined in section 106-b of the Uniform Justice Court Act, whereby the towns conducted a study, held a public hearing, and adopted a joint resolution proposing abolition of the two existing town justice positions and the election of one joint town justice.

The elected single town justice would begin presiding after the next general election in Ellington and Charlotte and would serve for the term elected.

Key provisions

Authority and process:

The measure relies on section 106-b of the Uniform Justice Court Act.
Each town conducted a study, held a public hearing, and adopted a joint resolution to abolish the two current town justice positions and establish a single town justice for both towns.

Election and term:

A single town justice would be elected to preside over the town courts of Ellington and Charlotte.
The chosen justice would take office following the next general election and would serve for the term corresponding to the election.

Immediate effect:

The act is effective immediately upon enactment.

Affected entities

Primary affected entities: The towns of Ellington and Charlotte in Chautauqua County.

Governance impact: Abolishment of the separate town justice positions in each town and the creation of a single jointly presiding town justice for both towns’ courts.

Practical impact: Administrative and operational changes to how municipal court cases are handled in Ellington and Charlotte, including potential changes to staffing, court operations, and budget as a result of consolidating judicial authority.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Process requirements:

The bill explicitly references the required study, public hearing, and joint resolution under the Uniform Justice Court Act before changing the structure of town justice offices.

Timeline:

The single town justice would preside after the next general election in Ellington and Charlotte and would serve for the term elected.

Effective date:

The bill is designated as taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Potential impacts and considerations

Administrative efficiency: Potential savings or streamlined operations from having one shared town justice instead of two separate positions.

Access to justice: Implications for residents’ access to judicial services in Ellington and Charlotte, including court scheduling and proximity to the courthouse.

Budget and staffing: Possible changes to budgets, personnel, and court operations to reflect a single judge presiding over both towns.

Transitional considerations: Need for orderly transition after the next general election, including transfer of caseload, records, and administrative responsibilities.

If you’d like, I can compare this proposal to other similar municipal consolidations or provide a brief pros-and-cons outline based on typical impacts of consolidating town justice positions.