After the Democrat’s initial pick was rejected by lawmakers from her party, a New York state commission delivered Governor Kathy Hochul a list of seven contenders for the state’s new top judge on Friday.
The state Commission on Judicial Nomination gave Hochul the list a month after the state Senate rejected Hochul’s nomination of appellate judge Hector LaSalle.
Corey Stoughton, a prominent civil rights lawyer, and Court of Appeals Judge Anthony Cannataro, the acting chief judge, are on the revised list.
Appellate judges Elizabeth Garry and Gerald Whalen, Court of Appeals Judges Rowan Wilson and Shirley Troutman, and Selendy Gay Ellsberg’s partner Caitlin Halligan are also on the list.
Democrats and progressive groups opposed Hochul’s nomination of LaSalle because he was too conservative on abortion rights and unions. LaSalle claims detractors misrepresented his record.
New York’s Senate’s unusual rejection of LaSalle averted a constitutional crisis caused by legislative leaders’ refusal to put the nominee on the floor. Republican senators sued to compel a vote in February.
The chief judge of New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, administers the state’s large judicial system.
Hochul must pick a candidate from the list between April 8 and 23 under state legislation. Former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore resigned in August.
If a current Court of Appeals judge is nominated and approved, it will generate a new court vacancy, requiring the nomination panel to assess applicants and present another list to the governor.
Hochul’s spokesman says the governor is studying the list.
E. Leo Milonas, Pillsbury Winthrop partner and nominating panel head said he was pleased by the quality and variety of chief judge applications.
52% of the 54 job applicants were women, and 31% were “of different origins,” according to the 12-member panel. FifteenIn addition, women and 12 minorities were interviewed 25 candidates.
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