J5517-2011 Actions

• Jun 21, 2012: ADOPTED
• Jun 21, 2012: REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION
• Jun 18, 2012: REFERRED TO FINANCE

J5517-2011 Text

 LEGISLATIVE  RESOLUTION  commemorating  the  50th Anniversary of the New
 York State Family Court
 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that  the
 quality  and character of life in the communities across the great State
 of New York  is  reflective  of  certain  exemplary  institutions  whose
 purpose is dedicated to serving the community and the needs of its citi
 zenry; and
 WHEREAS,  Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long
 standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly  proud  to  commem
 orate  the  50th  Anniversary  of the New York State Family Court, to be
 observed at a Ceremony at the Court of Appeals on Friday, September  14,
 2012; and
 WHEREAS,  In 1901, the first juvenile court in America was established
 in Chicago and the New York State Legislature segregated juvenile  cases
 by creating specialized children's parts within New York City; and
 WHEREAS,  In  1922,  joining  the  by then national movement, New York
 established a separate Children's Court, where  children's  issues  were
 divorced from the criminal court milieu; and
 WHEREAS,  Between  1922-1962,  the  Children's  Court continued but by
 1960, the court's limitations and deficiencies had been well documented,
 including split jurisdiction and the absence  of  legal  representation;
 and
 WHEREAS,  In  1961,  New  York  State decided to reorganize the entire
 court structure; and
 WHEREAS, In 1962, the New York State Family Court was  established  to
 adjudicate  every  justiciable family-related dispute, and incorporated,
 the parts equivalent to domestic violence parts of  the  local  criminal
 courts,  the  former State Children's Courts, and the paternity parts of
 the former Court of Special Sessions; and
 WHEREAS, The Family Court was also granted  adoption  and  abandonment
 jurisdiction and concurrent child custody jurisdiction; and
 WHEREAS,  For  the first time, children were afforded assigned counsel
 which ultimately led to the expansion of children's rights, such as  the
 right  to  appeal  adverse  decisions, the right to discover and present
 evidence addressing the child's interest; and
 WHEREAS, The Family Court Act also incorporated expanded child protec
 tive provisions affecting children and their parents; and
 WHEREAS, In 50 years, substantive statutory amendments  have  included
 the expansion of termination of parental rights provisions, expansion of
 the  Court's domestic violence authority, and the enactment of the Child
 Support Standards Act, which enhanced  the  economic  responsibility  of
 parents; and
 WHEREAS,  Family  Court  judges  today  preside  over child protective
 proceedings, juvenile delinquency and  person  in  need  of  supervision
 proceedings,  family  offenses,  custody,  guardianship  and  visitation
 proceedings,  adoptions,  paternity  and  child  and   spousal   support
 proceedings; and
 WHEREAS,  Family  Court  has  a rich history to cherish and build upon
 throughout the next century; now, therefore, be it
 RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause  in  its  deliberations  to
 commemorate  the 50th Anniversary of New York State Family Court; and be
 it further
 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran
 smitted to Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman.

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