Research

Administrative History

The filing requirement represented by this record series has been in force on a continuing basis since 1848. These records were first required to be filed with the secretary of state by the Laws of 1848, Chapter 379, which also established other procedures for the reorganized New York State court system created by the third constitution of New York (1846). The law also mandated the secretary of state to publish the dates and locations of court terms, as well as the names of the presiding judges. Both the Laws of 1876, Chapter 448, and the Laws of 1909, Chapter 35, which changed the state's court system, retained this procedure for designating court terms and assigning judges. After 1909, the justices of the appellate division for each judicial department and the governor officially designated the dates and appointments of the presiding judges for sessions of the circuit court, general and special terms, and courts of oyer and termines.