Bronx, N.Y. – Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie announced this week the appointment of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx), as chairman of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary. The previous chair, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, was recently appointed as the first female chair of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means. Chairman Dinowitz has served on the Judiciary Committee for 20 years.

"I am honored to begin serving as the chairman of this prestigious committee," said Assemblyman Dinowitz. "The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over legislation affecting not only the courts, but also estates, family law, domestic relations, civil rights, and many many other areas. The work of this committee impacts the lives of all New Yorkers. I look forward to representing my constituents and the interests of all of the people of New York as Judiciary Committee chairman."

The Assembly Committee on Judiciary has jurisdiction over legislation affecting all aspects of both state and local courts. It has primary jurisdiction over amendments to the State Constitution, Civil Practice Law and Rules, Judiciary Law, Uniform Court Acts, Family Court Act, Surrogate's Court and Procedure Act, Domestic Relations Law, Estates Powers and Trusts Law, Uniform Commercial Code, Lien Law, Debtor-Creditor Law, General Obligations Law, Real Property Law, Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, Civil Rights Law, Partnership Law, Eminent Domain Procedure Law and Indian Law. The Committee also shares budgetary oversight of the Office of Court Administration and the Department of Law with the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means. In addition, all proposed amendments to the New York State Constitution are considered by the Committee on Judiciary.

Assemblyman Dinowitz earned his Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School and served as an Administrative Law Judge before being elected to the Assembly in 1994.