Sen. Bailey says language-access bill will protect rights for limited-English defendants Senate print 4525, introduced by Sen. Bailey, was presented as a response to a Court of Appeals case to ensure language access does not bar defendants from justice; committee members expressed support and the bill was reported out with a small number of recorded negatives.

Senator Bailey's new bill aims to break down language barriers in the courtroom, ensuring that every defendant's right to justice is protected, regardless of their language skills.

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Chief Administrative Judge tells Legislature the courts are recovering but seeks funds for e-filing, problem-solving courts and civil legal services Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas told the joint fiscal committees the Unified Court System is restoring staff and expanding e-filing and problem-solving courts, and asked for an operating increase and targeted investments; legislators pressed him on courthouse encounters with ICE, after Zayas said courthouses recorded 58 federal law‑enforcement appearances in 2025, with 4 arrests.

New York's court system is on the mend, but Chief Judge Joseph Zayas warns it needs $150 million more to sustain crucial initiatives like e-filing and family court access.

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😂😤😤😤😤😭 Yet #TrumpNazi wants to deport #fraudsters. ☢️☣️ #selfdeport
#NewYorkCourts

Senate hearing spotlights Treatment Court Expansion Act amid Rikers, capacity and plea debates A New York State Senate hearing on the Treatment Court Expansion Act drew judges, court administrators, clinicians, advocates and people with lived experience to debate expanding diversion for people with mental illness and substance use disorders, resource gaps across the state and whether judges should require guilty pleas before participation.

New York lawmakers are grappling with a pivotal decision: should mental health issues be treated as public health challenges rather than criminal justice failures?

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#NY #MentalHealthReform #CitizenPortal #NewYorkCourts #PublicHealthChallenges #SubstanceUseDiversion