ALBANY, N.Y. -- Representatives from the New York state court system are scheduled to testify in front of state senators next month.

Tully Rinckey Partner in the family and matrimonial law practice group Leslie Silva said the public hearing follows a report commissioned in 2020 and released earlier this year calling for procedural reforms and cultural changes.

"We heard a variety of things from some discrimination and some bias that's happening in family court all the way to the facilities themselves needing physical improvements to the courthouses," Silva said.

The report primarily focused on New York City but expanded to recommendations for the entire state. The special adviser who led the review described the state of the court as "dehumanizing" and involving a "demeaning cattle-call culture."

"I think that that's important for people going into the court to not feel like they're just being shuffled around, that they're a piece of paper, but that they're a person, a part of a family and that they're coming to that court for some help," Silva said.

She said the report largely focused on race and equity in a system it says works differently for poor people and minorities.

"Mostly I think we're going to be hearing about the ways to improve or really diminish any bias or discrimination that's going on right now when it comes to courtroom demeanor, anti-racism training, anti-bias training for the judges and all the court staff," Silva said.

The attorney said many of the recommendations like hiring more judges and clerks and making facility improvements require additional money in the budget.

"That funding is going to be coming from our state Legislature and these problems need to be presented to them so they know exactly what it is that we're seeking the increased funds for," she said.

Silva said it's unclear how quickly the Legislature might implement changes but it could come as soon as next session.

As an attorney who works with families, she hopes it will mean they have more access to resources and public defenders and better treatment and understanding in general.