A report published by the New York City Bar Association raised “significant concerns” with the appointment and assignment mechanisms for New York’s Family Court judges, finding that turmoil among jurists “compromises the administration of justice, often at critical points for the safety and security of families and children.”

The NYCBA working group behind the report found that even though the number of statutorily authorized Family Court judgeships increased in 2016 and a number of judges have been appointed and reappointed in recent years, some Family Court parts are still left without judicial officers for long periods of time because of delays in appointing or replacing judges.