State Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau recently designated Otsego County Judge Brian D. Burns as supervising judge of the 75 towns and village courts in Otsego, Delaware and Madison counties, according to a news release from Burns.
His new responsibilities include coordinating resources between the state and local court systems and providing assistance and support to more than 110 local justices. He is also acting state Supreme Court Justice. He will continue to preside over the county, family, surrogate and drug treatment courts in Otsego County.
The responsibilities, which do not result in an increase in salary, come as part of a state plan to provide a level of assistance to the local courts, Burns said. While the city, supreme and county courts are part of a state system, the town and village courts are operated by municipalities, with justices who are often not lawyers, he said.
The new responsibilities certainly take more time, he said, though he has a lot of help with the aid of staff such as law clerk Nathaniel Getman. The evening hours for most of the courts also helps with the workload, he said.
Efforts under way, he said, include improving technology so that courts can contact him by e-mail, and Burns or fellow judges can respond with legal updates and changes in the law.
