Opinion 22-104

Short-Form Opinion

June 30, 2022

Question:          You ask if, as a village justice, you may provide the village mayor with a monthly list of the number of cases that have been tried or dismissed by the court each month, for publication in the village board’s monthly newsletter.

Discussion:        We have previously advised that it is not proper for a court to prepare documents for the police, prosecutor or news media. However, as Town and Village justices must present their records and dockets to their boards at least once annually (see Uniform Justice Court Act §2019-a; Town Law §31), a Town or Village justice may, but is not required to, present a monthly status report to his/her town or village board at a public board meeting and distribute copies of such report to anyone who requests a copy, including the media.

Therefore, we conclude that it is ethically permissible for you to provide the village mayor with a monthly list of the number of cases tried or dismissed by the court.

Enclosed:          Opinions 21-139; 21-26; 15-215; 07-185/08-68/08-77.