The Court of Appeals, New York State's highest court, is composed of a Chief Judge and six Associate Judges, each appointed to a 14-year term. New York's highest appellate court was established to articulate statewide principles of law in the context of deciding particular lawsuits. The Court thus generally focuses on broad issues of law as distinguished from individual factual disputes. There is no jurisdictional limitation based upon the amount of money at stake in a case or the status or rank of the parties.

On February 8, 2016, Chief Judge DiFiore announced the Excellence Initiative, a detailed and comprehensive evaluation of current processes and procedures to determine what is working well and what needs to be improved in the New York State Unified Court System. For more information on this initiative, including how comments may be submitted to the Chief Judge, please see Excellence Initiative.

The Court heard argument away from Court of Appeals Hall for a day of its October 2016 Session. On Friday, October 14, 2016, the Court heard argument in the Samuel L. Green Courtroom at the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, 50 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604. The day calendar and case summaries for the Rochester session are available here.

A Judge of the Court granted defendant leave to appeal in People v Otis Boone. The appeal is proceeding in the normal course of full briefing and oral argument.

After considering all public comment received, the Court of Appeals has amended its Rules of Practice, effective June 22, 2016. Principal briefs filed on normal course appeals, certified questions and review of the determinations of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct will be subject to a 14,000 word limit. Requests to exceed the limit may be made by letter. Rule 500.11 submissions (the Alternative Procedure for Selected Appeals), reply briefs, amicus curiae briefs and briefs in response to amicus curiae briefs will be subject to a 7,000 word limit. The amended Rules provide corresponding page limits for briefs that are handwritten or prepared on a typewriter. The new word and page limits will apply to all appeals for which the preliminary appeal statement is filed on or after the June 22 effective date.

In addition to the adoption of the word and page limits, section 500.20(d) was amended to clarify that only one request for reargument or reconsideration per party of a specific criminal leave application is permitted.

Questions may be directed to the Clerk's Office at (518) 455-7701 or (518) 455-7702.

A Judge of the Court granted defendant leave to appeal in People v Otis Boone. The appeal is proceeding in the normal course of full briefing and oral argument.

After considering all public comment received, the Court of Appeals has amended its Rules of Practice, effective June 22, 2016. Principal briefs filed on normal course appeals, certified questions and review of the determinations of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct will be subject to a 14,000 word limit. Requests to exceed the limit may be made by letter. Rule 500.11 submissions (the Alternative Procedure for Selected Appeals), reply briefs, amicus curiae briefs and briefs in response to amicus curiae briefs will be subject to a 7,000 word limit. The amended Rules provide corresponding page limits for briefs that are handwritten or prepared on a typewriter. The new word and page limits will apply to all appeals for which the preliminary appeal statement is filed on or after the June 22 effective date.

In addition to the adoption of the word and page limits, section 500.20(d) was amended to clarify that only one request for reargument or reconsideration per party of a specific criminal leave application is permitted.

Questions may be directed to the Clerk's Office at (518) 455-7701 or (518) 455-7702.