Judiciary
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Mission
The Judiciary is one of the three branches of New York State government. The mission of the Judiciary is to provide a forum for the fair and prompt resolution of civil and family disputes, criminal charges, disputes between citizens and the State, and challenges to government action. Other matters within the jurisdiction of the Judiciary are administration of decedents' estates, presiding over adoptions and proceedings to protect children and incapacitated persons, and regulation of the admission of lawyers to the Bar and their conduct and discipline.
Budget Highlights
The Judiciary’s FY 2026 Budget Submission seeks $3 billion in State Operating Funds. This increase excludes the cost of fringe benefits and represents an increase of $268.2 million (9.9%) from Enacted FY 2025 funding levels. Increased funding is driven largely by new judgeships, civil legal services increases, NYC criminal and family court judge increases, general salary increases for non-judicial staff, and staffing increases to improve case processing and address backlogs.
New York State’s Unified Court System (UCS) is among the largest, busiest, and most complex in the country, consisting of 11 trial courts, 4 appellate court divisions, and the Court of Appeals. The UCS employs over 1,400 State-paid judges and 16,000 nonjudicial staff in more than 300 locations around the State and receives approximately three million filings a year. This budget submission seeks funding which will enable the Courts to fulfill their mission to deliver justice in a manner that reflects the full measure of New York’s commitment to a just society under the rule of law.
The Judiciary’s budget submission also seeks $50 million in capital appropriation. This funding will allow the Judiciary to continue ongoing infrastructure modernization efforts, technology enhancements, and essential maintenance/upgrades on court facilities.