ALBANY – Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman vowed yesterday to vigorously pursue economies in the judicial system, but not to the point of denying access to the courts for people buffeted by hard times.
“Surely, we could close courts or greatly reduce the number of days and hours our courts are open, but at what cost to our citizenry?” Judge Lippman asked during the annual State of the Judiciary address at the Court of Appeals. “What are the consequences? Do we tell a victim of domestic violence seeking a protective order to come back tomorrow or next week? Can we ignore constitutional and statutory speedy trial requirements and allow justice to be delayed at the expense of public safety and the rights and liberties that everyone is entitled to in this country?”
