Article VI.

Section 7. Court of appeals; jurisdiction limited

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Court of appeals; jurisdiction limited

The jurisdiction of the court of appeals shall be limited to the review of questions of law except where the judgment is of death, or where the appellate division, on reversing or modifying a final or interlocutory judgment in an action or a final or interlocutory order in a special proceeding, finds new facts and a final judgment or a final order pursuant thereto is entered; but the right to appeal shall not depend upon the amount involved.
Appeals to the court of appeals may be taken in the classes of cases hereafter enumerated in this section:
In criminal cases, directly from a court of original jurisdiction where the judgment is of death, and in other criminal cases from an appellate division or otherwise as the legislature may from time to time provide.
In civil cases and proceedings as follows:
(1) As of right, from a judgment or order entered upon the decision of an appellate division of the supreme court which finally determines an action or special proceeding wherein is directly involved the construction of the constitution of the state or of the United States, or where one or more of the justices of the appellate division dissents from the decision of the court, or where the judgment or order is one of reversal or modification.
(2) As of right, from a judgment or order of a court of record of original jurisdiction which finally determines an action or special proceeding where the only question involved on the appeal is the validity of a statutory provision of the state or of the United States under the constitution of the state or of the United States; and on any such appeal only the constitutional question shall be considered and determined by the court.
(3) As of right, from an order of the appellate division granting a new trial in an action or a new hearing in a special proceeding where the appellant. stipulates that, upon affirmance, judgment absolute or final order shall be rendered against him.
(4) From a judgement of the appellate division of the supreme court in any department, other than a judgment or order which finally determines an action or special proceeding, where the appellate division allows the same and certifies that one or more questions of law have arisen which, in its opinion, ought to be reviewed by the court of appeals, but in such ease the appeal shall bring up for review only the question or questions so certified; and the court of appeals shall certify to the appellate division its determination upon such question or questions.
(5) From an order of the appellate division of the supreme court in any department, in a proceeding instituted by or against one or more public officers or a board, commission or other body of public officers or a court or tribunal, other than an order which finally determines such proceeding, where the court of appeals shall allow the same upon the ground that, in its opinion, a question of law is involved which ought to be reviewed by it, and without regard to the availability of appeal by stipulation for final order absolute.
(6) From a judgment or order entered upon the decision of an appellate division of the supreme court which finally determines an action or special proceeding but which is not appealable under subdivision (1) of this section where the appellate division or the court of appeals shall certify that in its opinion a question of law is involved which ought to be reviewed by the court of appeals. Such an appeal may be allowed upon application (a) to the appellate division, and in case of refusal, to the court of appeals, or (b) directly to the court of appeals. Such an appeal shall be allowed when required in the interest of substantial justice.
(7) No appeal shall be taken to the court of appeals from a judgment or order entered u)on the decision of an appellate division of the supreme court in any civil case or proceeding originally commenced in any court other than the supreme court, a county court, a surrogate's court, or the court of claims unless the construction of tile constitution of the state or of the United States is directly involved therein, or unless the appellate division of the supreme court shall certify that in its opinion a question of law is involved which ought to be reviewed by the court of appeals
(8) The legislature may abolish an appeal to the court of appeals as of right in any or all of the eases or classes of cases specified in subdivision (1) of this section wherein no question involving the construction of the constitution of tile state or of the United States is directly involved, provided, however, that appeals in any such case or class of cases shall thereupon be governed by subdivision (6) of this section.

Court of appeals; jurisdiction limited

The jurisdiction of the court of appeals shall be limited to the review of questions of law except where the judgment is of death, or where the appellate division, on reversing or modifying a final or interlocutory judgment in an action or a final or interlocutory order in a special proceeding, finds new facts and a final judgment or a final order pursuant thereto is entered; but the right to appeal shall not depend upon the amount involved.
Appeals to the court of appeals may be taken in the classes of cases hereafter enumerated in this section:
In criminal cases, directly from a court of original jurisdiction where the judgment is of death, and in other criminal cases from an appellate division or otherwise as the legislature may from time to time provide.
In civil cases and proceedings as follows:
(1) As of right, from a judgment or order entered upon the decision of an appellate division of the supreme court which finally determines an action or special proceeding wherein is directly involved the construction of the constitution of the state or of the United States, or where one or more of the justices of the appellate division dissents from the decision of the court, or where the judgment or order is one of reversal or modification.
(2) As of right, from a judgment or order of a court of record of original jurisdiction which finally determines an action or special proceeding where the only question involved on the appeal is the validity of a statutory provision of the state or of the United States under the constitution of the state or of the United States; and on any such appeal only the constitutional question shall be considered and determined by the court.
(3) As of right, from an order of the appellate division granting a new trial in an action or a new hearing in a special proceeding where the appellant stipulates that, upon affirmance, judgment absolute or final order shall be rendered against him.
(4) From a judgement of the appellate division of the supreme court in any department, other than a judgment or order which finally determines an action or special proceeding, where the appellate division allows the same and certifies that one or more questions of law have arisen which, in its opinion, ought to be reviewed by the court of appeals, but in such ease the appeal shall bring up for review only the question or questions so certified; and the court of appeals shall certify to the appellate division its determination upon such question or questions.
(5) From a judgment or order entered upon the decision of an appellate division of the supreme court which finally determines an action or special proceeding but which is not appealable under subdivision (1) of this section where the appellate division or the court of appeals shall certify that in its opinion a question of law is involved which ought to be reviewed by the court of appeals. Such an appeal may be allowed upon application (a) to the appellate division, and in case of refusal, to the court of appeals, or (b) directly to the court of appeals. Such an appeal shall be allowed when required in the interest of substantial justice.
(6) No appeal shall be taken to the court of appeals from a judgment or order entered u)on the decision of an appellate division of the supreme court in any civil case or proceeding originally commenced in any court other than the supreme court, a county court, a surrogate's court, or the court of claims unless the construction of tile constitution of the state or of the United States is directly involved therein, or unless the appellate division of the supreme court shall certify that in its opinion a question of law is involved which ought to be reviewed by the court of appeals
(7) The legislature may abolish an appeal to the court of appeals as of right in any or all of the cases or classes of cases specified in subdivision (1) of this section wherein no question involving the construction of the constitution of this state or of the United States is directly involved, provided, however, that appeals in any such case or class of cases shall thereupon be governed by subdivision (5) of this section.

Court of appeals; jurisdiction limited

The jurisdiction of the court of appeals, except where the judgment is of death, or where the appellate division, on reversing or modifying a final judgment in an action or a final order in a special proceeding, makes new findings of fact and renders final judgment or a final order thereon, shall be limited to the review of questions of law; but the right to appeal shall not depend upon the amount involved.
Appeals may be taken to the court of appeals in the classes of cases enumerated in this section.
In criminal cases, directly from a court of original jurisdiction where the judgment is of death, and in other criminal cases from an appellate division or otherwise as the legislature may from time to time provide.
In civil cases and proceedings as follows:
(1) As of right, from a judgment or order entered upon the decision of an appellate division of the supreme court which finally determines an action or special proceeding wherein is directly involved the construction of the constitution of the state or of the United States, or where one or more of the justices of the appellate division dissents from the decision of the court, or where the judgment or order is one of reversal or modification.
(2) As of right, from an order of the appellate division granting a new trial where the appellant stipulates that, upon affirmance, judgment absolute shall be rendered against him.
(3) As of right, from a judgment or order of a court of record of original jurisdiction which finally determines an action or special proceeding where the only question involved on the appeal is the validity of a statutory provision of the state or of the United States under the constitution of the state or of the United States; and on such an appeal only the constitutional question shall be considered and determined by the court.
(4) From a determination of the appellate division of the supreme court in any department, other than a judgment or order which finally determines an action or special proceeding, where the appellate division allows the same and certifies that one or more questions of law have arisen which, in its opinion, ought to be reviewed by the court of appeals, but in such case the appeal shall bring up for review only the question or questions so certified; and the court of appeals shall certify to the appellate division its determination upon such question or questions.
(5) From a judgment or order entered upon the decision of an appellate division of the supreme court which finally determines an action or special proceeding but which is not appealable under subdivision one of this section where the appellate division shall certify that in its opinion a question of law is involved which out to be reviewed by the court of appeals, or where, in case of refusal so to certify, and appeal is allowed by the court of appeals. Such an appeal shall be allowed when required in the interest of substantial justice. The legislature may further restrict the jurisdiction of the court of appeals and the right of appeal thereto. No appeal shall be taken to said court of appeals from a final judgment or order of the appellate division in any civil case or proceeding originally commenced in any court other than the supreme court, a county court, a surrogate’s court, or a court of claims or board of audit under the appellate division of the supreme court shall certify that in its opinion a question of law is involved which ought to be reviewed by the court of appeals.

Jurisdiction of court of appeals

After the last day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals, except where the judgment is of death, shall be limited to the review of questions of law. No unanimous decision of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court that there is evidence supporting or tending to sustain a finding of fact or a verdict not directed by the court, shall be reviewed by the Court of Appeals. Except where the judgment is of death, appeals may be taken, as of right, to said court only from judgments or orders entered upon decisions of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, finally determining actions or special proceedings, and from orders granting new trials on exceptions, where the appellants stipulate that upon affirmance judgment absolute shall be rendered against them. The Appellate Division in any department may however, allow an appeal upon any question of law which, in its opinion, ought to be reviewed by the Court of Appeals. The Legislature may further restrict the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals and the right of appeal thereto, but the right to appeal shall not depend upon the amount involved. The provisions of this section shall not apply to orders made or judgments rendered by any General Term before the last day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, but appeals therefrom may be taken under existing provisions of law.

Redlined Comparison between 1926 and 1944 Amendment

Removed from 1926 Added to 1944

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