New York State Court of Appeals: What’s Next?
3.1.2023
In this month’s episode of “Miranda Warnings Roundtable,” our panel of experts engage in a lively discussion about the state Senate’s rejection of Governor Kathy Hochul’s chief judge nominee and the political ramifications.
Albany Law professor and veteran court watcher Vin Bonventre called the vote rejecting Presiding Justice Hector LaSalle shameful.
“As somebody whose been a Democrat for a long, long, time, I think it’s a disgrace. I am ashamed to be a Democrat for what they did,” he said. “What are the odds that all these Democrats really thought that this man should not be the chief judge?”
Political strategist Liz Benjamin of Marathon Strategies says the defeat of the LaSalle nomination is a political failure for the governor.
“[The progressives] said ‘anyone but this guy’ and she picked this guy – why? I don’t understand why you would pick this fight. You knew where this was going to end up, down at the bottom of the ravine,” she said.
The panel discussed the next round of applications for chief judge and whether any nominees will withdraw their names from the list. Will the Commission on Judicial Nomination take into consideration the political viability of the next round of candidates?
You can hear the complete episode below.
