| NEW YORK - Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye and Chief Administrative
Judge Jonathan Lippman today announced the implementation of "Secure Pass" - a
new voluntary program that allows attorneys speedy, convenient access to
courthouses throughout the state without subjecting them to magnetometer
screening, while at the same time maintaining the highest level of security
for the facility and the individuals within. Attorneys who apply will undergo
a thorough application process, including an electronic criminal history
search - similar to that performed on court employees and law enforcement
personnel - before being provided with a special identification card with
enhanced security features using cutting-edge technology that will allow
them to bypass the magnetometers. The Secure Pass program was initiated
in consultation with the bar, which requested an option for attorneys to
speed their entry into courthouses.
Chief Judge Kaye stated, "Courthouses must be both accessible and safe
for all who enter. For ‘regular customers' of the court, such as
attorneys, we have instituted a new system of identification that allows
for simplified, quicker entry, combined with maximal security safeguards.
By helping attorneys make their day in court as productive as possible,
we improve the smooth functioning of the court by reducing case-processing
time, which will benefit litigants and the public in general."
Judge Lippman added, "The Secure Pass system will save attorneys substantial
time and inconvenience, particularly for those individuals who travel to
several different court locations daily or who must enter and re-enter
the courthouse repeatedly in one day. At the same time, the safety of the
public and employees within our facilities is paramount and will remain
uncompromised. This program will make it possible to integrate prudent,
necessary security measures with the practical realities of doing business
day in and day out in our courts."
Applications for the Secure Pass cards will be available to members
of the bar beginning April 22, 2002, at local courthouses across the state.
Use of the cards is expected to start during the middle of May. A $25 processing
fee will be charged to cover administrative costs, and the card will be
valid for two years.
The new program also will be made available to appropriate governmental
and quasi-governmental entities with employees who regularly work in court
facilities, and these applications will begin to be accepted starting June
4, 2002. |
