In the 1980s, the court heard cases involving the prosecution of the "Topfree Seven," women who intentionally bared their chests once a year in order to protest the criminalization of female nudity. Judge Herman J. Walz ruled that the women could not be prosecuted under New York's public nudity statute because their act of going topless in order to protest the law was imbued with First Amendment protections. The decision was later affirmed by the New York Court of Appeals.People v Santorelli, 80 NY2d 875 (1992), affg People v Craft, 134 Misc 2d 121 (Rochester City Court, 1986). By 1995, Rochester City Court had eight judges. A ninth was added in 2001.L.2001, c. 584, §§ 3 to 6, effective December 28, 2001 The Court was brought to its current complement of ten judges in 2014.L.2013, c. 548 §§ 1 to 4, effective April 1, 2014.
In the 1980s, the court heard cases involving the prosecution of the "Topfree Seven," women who intentionally bared their chests once a year in order to protest the criminalization of female nudity. Judge Herman J. Walz ruled that the women could not be prosecuted under New York's public nudity statute because their act of going topless in order to protest the law was imbued with First Amendment protections. The decision was later affirmed by the New York Court of Appeals.People v Santorelli, 80 NY2d 875 (1992), affg People v Craft, 134 Misc 2d 121 (Rochester City Court 1986). By 1995, Rochester City Court had eight judges. A ninth was added in 2001.L.2001, c. 584, §§ 3 to 6, effective December 28, 2001 The Court was brought to its current complement of ten judges in 2014.L.2013, c. 548 §§ 1 to 4, effective April 1, 2014.