Results tagged “countyclerk”

Today marks the third annual Informal Presentation on the Art of Dance, a dance event put on by the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble. The two troupes converge each year in a most unconventional space: The State Supreme Court of Manhattan!

Rensselaer County Clerk Frank J. Merola is unhappy with Gov. Spitzer's plan to issue drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. As an employee of the State, he has no legal discretion over whether he can ignore the plan once it's enacted, so he's filed a lawsuit to block the initiative in state Supreme Court in Albany. In a statement explaining his lawsuit. County Clerk Frank Merola alluded to a recent public opinion poll that showed widespread opposition to Spitzer's plan licensing plan.

“New York residents have stated loudly and clearly that we are not in favor of giving license to illegal aliens and all we get from the Governor are lectures on how we are wrong, and that if we were as smart as he was, we would understand and support this policy. Well, 72% of New York residents, including myself and a vast majority of County Clerks are not as smart as the Governor and I am filing suit to prevent this travesty of a policy from being implemented.”

The State Senate also voted 39-19 to pass legislation that would overturn Spitzer's licensing plan. Any hope of that legislation making its way through the Assembly, however, is approximately nil unless Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver decides to oppose Spitzer's plan.

prospective jurors available for a particular trial is racially and ethically balanced.The NY Times spoke to the County Clerk, Norman Goodman, who said "personal injury lawyers had complained to him about the high proportion of white professionals serving on juries" because working-class juries tend "to be more generous in granting financial damages to plaintiffs." Goodman also said sending more notices to certain neighborhoods might be unconstitutional.

What would Alvy Singer think? ianqui emailed us about a jury summons notice that came in the mail. Only it was directed to someone who lived in "Jew York"! Clearly the Post Office relies on zip codes, as the summons did get to ianqui. Which makes us wonder how many Manhattan residents were told that they suddenly lived in Jew York - or when the County Clerk's office realized the typo. At any rate, ianqui was a good Jew Yorker, as she reported to jury duty yesterday.

With so much confusion surrounding voting this year, you might be wondering what you should do if you show up at your local polling place on Tuesday and find that your name isn't on the roster of registered voters.

Judge Kaye says, "Jurors expect jury duty to be a waste of time. I can't tell you how that sickens and disheartens me. Clearly we have to change that." And some ways they are looking to do so is giving free Internet access during downtimes and free parking/transportation. Woo, free Internet during jury duty. Gothamist would be tempted to blog a trial, but we're sure a court officer would confiscate our laptop. Another suggestion we have is not to make the jury summon letters red. Maybe a softer pastel, with some stickers on it, would make it seem more friendly.