An unspecified number of lower court judges who were designated acting Supreme Court justices will be returned to the lower court, losing the title and salary of the higher post as the Office of Court Administration embarks on an effort to weed out judges who are technically ineligible for or not needed in Supreme Court, said Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti (See Profile).
Prudenti said officials will strictly enforce a rule that allows only county-level or equivalent judges with two years of experience to serve as acting Supreme Court justices. Additionally, she said acting justices who are not “doing significant Supreme Court” work will be sent back to a lower court, typically County Court, Family Court or Surrogate’s Court.
