ALBANY, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — Gov. Kathy Hochul nominated Court of Appeals Associate Judge Rowan Wilson to lead New York's highest court on Monday after her first choice was rejected by Senate Democrats.
"The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals not only leads the State's highest court, but is also responsible for managing the diverse and complex courts across the State," the governor said in a statement.
"New Yorkers deserve a strong, effective, and thoughtful leader, and I am proud to nominate Judge Wilson as Chief Judge," Hochul added. "Judge Wilson's sterling record of upholding justice and fairness makes him well-suited to lead the court at this critical time."
Wilson, 62, who has been on the state Court of Appeals since 2017, would be the state's first Black chief judge if confirmed, but he would only be able to serve for eight years before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
"Protecting the rights of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I look forward to working with Governor Hochul and our partners throughout the judiciary system to manage our courts and deliver justice," Wilson said in a statement.
Hochul's nomination of Wilson comes after Hector LaSalle, her initial pick for chief judge, was rejected by Democrats in her own party in favor of a judge with a more politically progressive record. LaSalle's supporters said he was being unfairly targeted by the left and that his judicial opinions were being misconstrued.
Brian Ginsberg, a frequent litigator in the state’s Court of Appeals who has appeared before Wilson, said the veteran judge is a "probing questioner" and would be a "force of intellectual leadership" in the role.
State Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, a Democrat, expressed support for Wilson's nomination, saying Wilson is "exactly the type of person who can restore the integrity and reputation of the Court of Appeals after the damaging tenure of the previous administration."
The governor also announced "strong support" for Wilson’s intention to recommend Joseph Zayas as chief administrative judge, where he’d oversee a budget of more then $3 billion.
Wilson was not Hochul's only appointment to the Court of Appeals on Monday.
She also nominated former state solicitor general Caitlin J. Halligan, who is currently a partner at a New York City-based law firm, to fill Wilson’s spot as associate judge. Halligan was a highly recommended candidate from a list of seven reviewed by the Commission on Judicial Nomination, Hochul said.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, chair of the state's Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a statement that the importance of nominees to the state’s Court of Appeals “cannot be overstated” given recent decisions by federal courts on issues such as abortion and gun safety.
He said he looks forward to conducting hearings to examine the nominees’ records.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related
Related
Related
