The Court of Appeals announces that, effective July 2028, the Uniform Bar Examination will be replaced by the NextGen Bar Exam.  Additionally, to ensure that prospective attorneys are sufficiently versed in New York legal principles and practice, a committee, co-chaired by the Honorable Eugene F. Pigott and Sherry Levin Wallach, will study and report to the Court on options for a New York-specific bar eligibility requirement.  The full notice to the bar can be accessed here.

The Court will be hearing argument away from Court of Appeals Hall in Albany for its upcoming March 2025 Session.  On March 11, 12 and 13, the Court will hear argument at Broome County Courthouse, 92 Court Street, Binghamton, New York.  The full notice to the bar can be accessed here.

In December, the Clerk’s Office issued briefing schedules on civil and criminal appeals and provides information on those appeals in a Notice to the Bar, available here. Docket information, briefing schedules, filings, and oral argument dates are or will be available through the Court’s Public Access and Search System (Court-PASS). Nonparties seeking to appear as amicus curiae should refer to Court of Appeals Rule of Practice 500.23.

In October and November, the Clerk’s Office issued briefing schedules on civil and criminal appeals and provides information on those appeals in a Notice to the Bar, available here.  Docket information, briefing schedules, filings, and oral argument dates are or will be available through the Court’s Public Access and Search System (Court-PASS).  Nonparties seeking to appear as amicus curiae should refer to Court of Appeals Rule of Practice 500.23. 

The Court of Appeals has appointed Heather Davis as Clerk of the Court. Ms. Davis has served the Court in various positions, including Deputy Clerk, Chief Motion Clerk, and Principal Court Attorney. In 2002, Ms. Davis was admitted to the Bar, having received her J.D. from Albany Law School, magna cum laude.

 The Court of Appeals has amended Rule 520.4 of the Rules for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law, effective November 6, 2024.  The amendment clarifies that the law school component of the law office study program must comply with distance learning restrictions of Rule 520.3(c).  The amended rule can be accessed here.