Requires the ethics commission of the unified court system to post judges' annual financial disclosures on the commission's website

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Burdick and 3 co-sponsors

Requires posting judges' annual financial disclosures on the Ethics Commission website to ensure public access and transparency for Unified Court System judges.

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

Bill Summary: A 2236 – Posting of Judges' Annual Financial Disclosures

Purpose and Intent

The bill would require the Ethics Commission of the Unified Court System to post judges’ annual financial disclosures on the commission’s official website.

The aim is to increase transparency and public accessibility to financial information disclosed by judges serving within the unified court system.

Key Provisions

Mandate: The Ethics Commission must post judges’ annual financial disclosures on the commission’s website.

Scope: Applies to judges within the Unified Court System (as governed by the state’s judiciary).

Public Access: The disclosures would be publicly accessible via the commission’s website, enhancing public accountability.

Who Would Be Affected

Primary: Judges within the Unified Court System who file annual financial disclosures.

Secondary: The Ethics Commission that administers and maintains the disclosures, and the general public seeking access to the information.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Status: REFERRED TO JUDICIARY.

Introduced: January 15, 2025.

Legislative Actions: On January 15, 2025, the bill was referred to the Judiciary committee (listed twice, indicating a formal referral in the legislative record).

Next Steps: If advanced, the bill would undergo committee consideration, potential amendments, and floor votes in the Assembly. It may then proceed to the Senate (or related parallel actions) per the chamber-specific process. No further actions are listed in the provided record.

Sponsorship and Related Legislation

Sponsors:

Primary: Jo Anne Simon
Cosponsors: Andrew Hevesi, Chris Burdick, Maritza Davila

Related Bills (prior-session):

S 9573
A 7739

Relationship: These related bills indicate prior-session proposals with a similar objective to make judges’ financial disclosures publicly accessible.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

Transparency and Public Trust: Increased access to financial disclosures could enhance transparency regarding the financial interests of judges.

Privacy and Security: Considerations regarding the level of detail disclosed and any sensitive information. The bill as stated focuses on posting disclosures but does not specify redaction or data handling policies.

Administrative Burden: The Ethics Commission would be responsible for posting and maintaining disclosures on the website, which may require resources for ongoing updates and accessibility.

Precedent and Comparisons: Aligns with broader efforts in many jurisdictions to publish judicial ethics information online.

Notes for Readers

The bill reflects an ongoing interest in making judicial ethics information more publicly available. The exact contents (e.g., posting format, redaction rules, update timelines) would be clarified in the bill’s text and any subsequent amendments during committee consideration.