After the declaration of independence by the colonies during the American Revolutionary War, the newly established independent government created the New York State Constitution of 1777, which continued the court but required a lawyer to be appointed Chancellor.
[3] The Chancellor of New York, during the existence of the post, was the highest judicial officer in the state.
The Chancellor was also an ex officio member of the Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors in which his decisions could be appealed.
This became effective on July 5, 1847, when its equity jurisdiction was transferred to the New York Supreme Court and its appellate jurisdiction was transferred to the New York Court of Appeals.
The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals succeeded the Chancellor as the Head of the State's judicial system.