Direct appeals are authorized from final trial-court decisions in civil cases where the only issue is the constitutionality of a federal or state statute.

[8][9][10] The eleven-member New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct receives complaints, investigates, and makes initial determinations regarding judicial conduct and may recommend admonition, censure, or removal from office to the Chief Judge and Court of Appeals.

[11][12] The Court of Appeals promulgates rules for admission to practice law in New York.

[13] (The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division is responsible for actual admissions.

Only the "Judicial Article", which re-organized the New York Court of Appeals, was adopted by a small majority, with 247,240 for and 240,442 against it.

[18] Democrat Sanford E. Church defeated Republican Henry R. Selden for Chief Judge.

In case of a vacancy due to death or resignation, a judge was appointed by the Governor until a successor was chosen at the next State election.

To replace retiring or appointed judges, all substitutes were elected to full 14-year terms.

In 1889, a "Second Division" of the Court of Appeals was established temporarily to help to decide the large number of cases.

Its seven members were designated[21] by Governor David B. Hill, chosen from the New York Supreme Court's General Term benches.

[23] In 1891, the State Constitutional Commission, headed by William B. Hornblower drafted an amendment to abolish the Second Division.