Justice Matt D’Emic announced as co-chair of statewide judicial task force on mental illness

Chief Judge Rowan Wilson was in Brooklyn on Wednesday for a courthouse event, but it turns out that he may have also been there to meet with his new co-chair of statewide initiative.

Chief Judge Wilson, along with Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas, announced on Thursday a new leadership team for the New York State Judicial Task Force on Mental Illness. The task force is a statewide initiative committed to reforming how the judicial system manages individuals with behavioral health issues. 

Hon. Matthew D’Emic, administrative judge for criminal matters in Kings County Supreme Court, will chair the task force. He is joined by co-chair Hon. Jacqueline Sisson, a Canandaigua City Court judge and acting Ontario Family and County Court judge.

“I am delighted that Judge D’Emic, who served on the national task force on mental illness, will continue this important work and, with co-chair Judge Sisson, will spearhead our extensive, statewide undertaking as we seek to effect systemic reforms, from improving diversion to treatment practices, to developing comprehensive training for judges and non-judicial personnel, to building stronger bridges with the courts’ partner agencies as well as between our local courts and communities throughout the State,” Chief Judge Wilson said in the announcement on Thursday.

The announcement falls in line with national efforts, particularly the work of the Conferences of Chief Justices and State Court Administrators’ National Judicial Task Force, which has already issued expansive recommendations on the role of state courts in addressing mental health. 

This state task force will build on that groundwork to focus on justice-involved children, youth and adults with behavioral health…