§ 134 Eligibility for office

Here's a plain English summary:

To become a family court judge in New York, you must have been a licensed lawyer in the state for at least ten years before you start the job. This rule applies to anyone new stepping into the role after this law took effect.

If someone was already serving as a family court judge before this rule became law, they are allowed to keep their position even if they don't meet the ten year requirement. This means the rule only affects new judges going forward, not people already on the bench.

The point of this rule is to make sure family court judges have real experience with the law before they start deciding cases that affect families, children, and other important matters. Ten years of legal practice is meant to give judges the background they need to handle these cases fairly and knowledgeably.