Controversial New York Judicial Reorganization Bill Vetoed
By: Joseph T. Burns
On February 9, 2026, Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill that would have radically reorganized the judiciary for a significant portion of Upstate New York. The bill was sent to Gov. Hochul on December 31, 2025, and the governor failed to sign it within the time allowed by law, making her inaction a “pocket veto” of the bill.
Had it been signed into law, the bill would have created two new judicial districts and redrawn the boundaries of three judicial districts. The new districts would have all been within the Appellate Division, Fourth Department.
The bill would have altered the boundaries of the Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Judicial Districts. Each of these districts includes one large, urban county (Onondaga, Monroe and Erie, respectively) and a number of smaller, rural counties. The bill would have made each of those urban counties a single judicial district. Two new judicial districts would have been created from the rural counites of the Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Judicial Districts.
The vetoed bill, which would have brought the total number of judicial districts in New York State from 13 to 15, passed both houses of the state legislature on June 12, 2026. State legislators were deeply divided on the proposal. Republicans vehemently opposed the reorganization bill while most Democrats in the state legislature voted to approve the measure.
New York State elects its Supreme Court Justices by judicial district. Justices serve 14-year terms and may serve until they reach the age of 70. When Justices turn 70, they may apply to the Office of Court Administration for two-year extensions that allow them to continue their service. With the extensions, Justices may continue their service until they reach the age of 76.
Unlike most other public offices, New York State Supreme Court Justices are nominated at party judicial district conventions, not primary elections. At these judicial district conventions, each recognized political party’s duly elected judicial delegates select their party’s nominees for Supreme Court.
The 2026 state legislative session began in January, and it is unknown at this time whether the legislature will consider any similar bills to reorganize the judiciary during this year’s session. Under the state constitution, the state legislature is only allowed to alter New York State’s judicial districts once every ten years.
We will monitor any proposals related to reorganizing the judiciary that are introduced during New York’s 2026 legislative session and provide updates when appropriate.
