Two dozen state Supreme Court justices approaching or past age 70 are seeking to continue their judicial careers for extra terms under the certification program.
Certification was established under Article VI, 25 of the New York Constitution and Judiciary Law 115 to allow an exception for elected Supreme Court justices to the general judicial retirement age of 70.
The program allows qualified justices to serve up to three, two-year terms. They must retire at the end of the calendar year in which they turn 76.
Those seeking extensions include Appellate Division, First Department, Justices Richard Andrias and Peter Tom. If granted an extra term, they must then reapply through Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office to remain appellate judges.
Also seeking extended terms in the First Judicial Department are Bronx Supreme Court Justices Ruben Franco, Michael Gross and William Mogulescu; Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Roger Hayes; and Commercial Division Justice O. Peter Sherwood.
The Second Judicial Department has Nassau County Supreme Court Justices Anna Anzalone and Angelo Delligatti; Brooklyn Supreme Court Justices John Ingram, William Miller, Michael Pesce, David Vaughan and Edgar Walker; Suffolk County Supreme Court Justices H. Patrick Leis III and Carol MacKenzie; Rockland County Supreme Court Justices Gerald Loehr and Mary Smith; Queens Supreme Court Justices Margaret McGowan and Allan Weiss; Westchester County Supreme Court Justice Terry Ruderman; and Orange County Supreme Court Justice Elaine Slobod seeking an extension.
And in the Fourth Judicial Department, Erie County Supreme Court Justice Jeremiah Moriarty III and Monroe County Supreme Court Justice Thomas Stander are asking to remain on the bench.
The board seeks input on the justices' legal abilities; competence to perform duties of the office; judicial demeanor, integrity and character; and commitment to equal justice under law.
Comments must be sent no later than Aug. 21, 2017, to JSCcertification@nycourts.gov or to John W. McConnell, Counsel, Office of Court Administration, 25 Beaver St., 11th Fl., New York, NY 10004.