A trial court has ruled for the second time that a change in state law to decrease the state's contribution to judges' health care insurance premiums was unconstitutional.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Carol Edmead's March 25 ruling Bransten v. State of New York, 159160/12, granted a motion for summary judgment filed by 13 active and retired Supreme Court justices, two associations representing judges and more than 1,000 retired judges who are not individually identified in court papers.

Edmead wrote that the state failed to show that 2011 amendments to Civil Service Law § 167(8) as it applies to judges and justices does not violate the Compensation Clause of the state Constitution.