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Q&A

Chair Brooks-Powers questions NYC comparison to national case disposition standards

New York City Council · Jun 25, 2026 · starts 0:33:34 · 1 min 28 sec

Brooks-Powers cites National Center for State Courts standards (75% of felonies disposed within 90 days) and asks how NYC compares. Zayas says NYC clearly does not meet these, noting NYC's vastly different caseloads and robust defense bar.

Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

So according to standards set by National Center for State Courts, 75% of felony cases should reach disposition within 90 days.

Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

90% should reach disposition within 180 days and 98% within 365 days.

Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

How does New York City compare to these national standards?

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

So we could get to those numbers as well.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

We clearly do not.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

Maybe in the first part of that, there's more compliance.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

But when you're talking about the more serious cases, you know, New York is different in all sorts of ways from other small states.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

I mean, our caseloads are, you know,

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

20, 30, 40, 50 times more than the caseloads that they might have in these small jurisdictions in Utah.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

And so that's what they're comparing it to.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

And New York also has, you know, a very robust defense bar.

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

And so I'm not, I don't think that we are aspiring to meet those

Judge Joseph A. Zayas

center for court, the state center for court's timeline because New York is so different.