PUBLIC RELIEF THAT COURT IS RE-OPENED 5 DAYS A WEEK

            This was a very important week for East Hampton citizens.  Our Justice Court announced that it would be open to the public five days a week, after two years of reduced access.  This announcement comes after the Justices Catherine Cahill and Lisa Rana added a staff member to help administer the Court’s duties.

Why does this matter?

            Justice Court is where many citizens have their first or only contact with our municipal government.  Justice Court is the judicial branch of our local government.  The judicial branch of government is tasked with administering the law.  Unless a citizen is involved with drafting legislation or executing the Town’s affairs, citizens generally have less contact with the legislative or executive branch of our local governments (our Town and Village Halls).  On the other hand, anyone who wants an opportunity to be heard on the administration of the law needs to go to Justice Court. 

            Because the judicial branch of government with the most contact with the public, and our Justice Court is among the busiest in the State, our Justice Court must be open full time, five days a week.  Therefore, the Court must be staffed accordingly, so that all of our citizens can have equal access.  Equal administration of justice is one of the pillars of our society.  Equal access to justice every day of the week is part of that, especially in a Court as busy as ours.  Unfortunately, too many citizens don’t have to imagine taking time from their busy schedules to take care of routine matters, like paying parking tickets.  When they used to arrive at Court on Tuesdays, they had no access to the Court and were forced to return another day.  Justice delayed, even by one day, is justice denied.  The severity of delay only increases as the stakes get higher.

            To illustrate the point, in some very busy jurisdictions, court is open nearly 24 hours a day.  I can recall being a young Assistant District Attorney in New York City, and working arraignments until 3 or 4 am.  I also recall being in Court, as a more senior A.D.A., for search warrants in the wee, small hours of the morning.  Either way, it was long after City Hall had closed and still hours before it would open for tomorrow’s business.

            Town and Village Halls are open five days a week, so it is only fair to the public that Justice Court is, too. 

            I look forward to a Court that provides equal access to all of the parties who need to use it, and I look forward to the opportunity to make sure our Court stays open to the public full time, year-round.

            My name is Carl Irace.  I am an attorney with an East Hampton-based law practice, and I look forward to blogging with you about our courts.