New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments
Encyclopedia
The Court for the Trial of Impeachments, and the Correction of Errors was established by the New York State Constitution of 1777. It consisted then of the Lieutenant Governor of New York
(who is ex officio President of the State Senate), the Chancellor
, the justices of the New York Supreme Court
and the members of the New York State Senate
. It had two distinct jurisdictions: the trial of State officers who had been impeached
by the New York State Assembly
, and it served as a "court of last resort" in which decisions, which had become final after being upheld by the New York Supreme Court and the Chancellor, could be reversed on non-judicial grounds, since this court did not render a judgment of law, but consisting of politicians rather than lawyers, could consider political, moral, ethical or other subjective points of view.
The Court for the Correction of Errors was abolished by the State Constitution of 1846, and its jurisdiction on appeals transferred to the succeeding New York Court of Appeals
. Hiram Denio
published the records of the cases which were tried in the Court for the Correction of Errors from 1830 to 1847.
The Court for the Trial of Impeachments, in the newspapers often referred to as the Impeachment Court or sometimes as the High Court of Impeachment, still exists. Since 1847, it consists of the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
, the associate judges of the Court of Appeals, and the members of the State Senate.
Any member of this court who has been impeached and is on trial himself, is temporarily excluded from it. Likewise, if the Governor of New York
or the Lieutenant Governor are tried, the Lieutenant Governor and the Temporary President of the State Senate
are excluded. The impeachment now requires a majority vote of the total of members of Assembly, and a conviction requires a two-thirds majority of the Impeachment Court.
The most famous trial held by this court was the impeachment of Governor William Sulzer
in 1913.
(Dem.), acquitted - Lt. Gov. Sanford E. Church
presided.
(Dem.), convicted unanimously - Lt. Gov. Allen C. Beach
(Dem.) presided
(Dem.), convicted - Chief Judge Edgar M. Cullen
(Dem.) presided and voted against conviction.
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
(who is ex officio President of the State Senate), the Chancellor
New York Court of Chancery
The New York Court of Chancery was established during the colonial administration on August 28, 1701, the colonial governor acting as Chancellor. The New York State Constitution of 1777 continued the court but required a lawyer to be appointed Chancellor. It was the court with jurisdiction on cases...
, the justices of the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
and the members of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
. It had two distinct jurisdictions: the trial of State officers who had been impeached
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
by the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, and it served as a "court of last resort" in which decisions, which had become final after being upheld by the New York Supreme Court and the Chancellor, could be reversed on non-judicial grounds, since this court did not render a judgment of law, but consisting of politicians rather than lawyers, could consider political, moral, ethical or other subjective points of view.
The Court for the Correction of Errors was abolished by the State Constitution of 1846, and its jurisdiction on appeals transferred to the succeeding New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
. Hiram Denio
Hiram Denio
Hiram Denio was an American lawyer and politician from New York...
published the records of the cases which were tried in the Court for the Correction of Errors from 1830 to 1847.
The Court for the Trial of Impeachments, in the newspapers often referred to as the Impeachment Court or sometimes as the High Court of Impeachment, still exists. Since 1847, it consists of the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals refers to the position of chief judge on the New York Court of Appeals.The chief judge supervises the seven-judge Court of Appeals...
, the associate judges of the Court of Appeals, and the members of the State Senate.
Any member of this court who has been impeached and is on trial himself, is temporarily excluded from it. Likewise, if the Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
or the Lieutenant Governor are tried, the Lieutenant Governor and the Temporary President of the State Senate
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
The Majority Leader of the New York State Senate is elected by the majority of the members of the New York State Senate. The position usually coincides with the title of Temporary President of the State Senate, who presides over the session of the State Senate if the Lieutenant Governor of New York...
are excluded. The impeachment now requires a majority vote of the total of members of Assembly, and a conviction requires a two-thirds majority of the Impeachment Court.
The most famous trial held by this court was the impeachment of Governor William Sulzer
William Sulzer
William Sulzer was an American lawyer and politician, nicknamed Plain Bill Sulzer. He was the 39th Governor of New York and a long-serving congressman from the same state. He was the first and so far only New York Governor to be impeached...
in 1913.
1853
Canal Commissioner John C. MatherJohn C. Mather (New York)
John Cotton Mather was an American politician. In 1853, he was the first person tried by the New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments.-Life:...
(Dem.), acquitted - Lt. Gov. Sanford E. Church
Sanford E. Church
Sanford Elias Church was an American lawyer and Democratic politician...
presided.
1868
- Canal Commissioner Robert C. DornRobert C. DornRobert C. Dorn was an American politician from New York. In 1868, he was the second person tried by the New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments.-Life:He lived in Schenectady, New York....
(Rep.), acquitted - Chief Judge Ward HuntWard HuntWard Hunt , was an American jurist and politician. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1868 to 1869, and an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1873 to 1882.-Life:...
presided and voted against conviction. - Votes for conviction: Judges Martin GroverMartin GroverMartin Grover was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
(Dem.) and Theodore MillerTheodore MillerTheodore Miller was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was admitted to the bar in 1837...
(Dem.); State Senators Beach, Cauldwell, Crowley, Hall, Morris and Nichols - 8 - Votes against conviction: Judges Ward HuntWard HuntWard Hunt , was an American jurist and politician. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1868 to 1869, and an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1873 to 1882.-Life:...
(Rep.), Lewis B. Woodruff (Rep.), Charles MasonCharles Mason (judge)Charles Mason was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He lived at Hamilton, New York.He was District Attorney of Madison County, New York from 1845 to 1847...
(Rep.), William J. BaconWilliam J. BaconWilliam Johnson Bacon was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
(Rep.), Thomas W. Clerke and Charles C. Dwight; State Senators Chapman, Banks, Campbell, Hubbard, Humphrey, Kennedy, Mattoon, Morgan, Wicks, Palmer, Parker, Thayer, Van Patten - 19
1872
Supreme Court justice George G. BarnardGeorge G. Barnard
George Gardner Barnard was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was one of only four people tried by the New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments.-Life:...
(Dem.), convicted unanimously - Lt. Gov. Allen C. Beach
Allen C. Beach
Allen Carpenter Beach was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:...
(Dem.) presided
1913
Governor William SulzerWilliam Sulzer
William Sulzer was an American lawyer and politician, nicknamed Plain Bill Sulzer. He was the 39th Governor of New York and a long-serving congressman from the same state. He was the first and so far only New York Governor to be impeached...
(Dem.), convicted - Chief Judge Edgar M. Cullen
Edgar M. Cullen
Edgar Montgomery Cullen was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1904 to 1913.-Biography:...
(Dem.) presided and voted against conviction.