NYSBA in the News: Court of Appeals Judge Retires and Hurdles for Cannabis Industry

NYSBA in the News: Court of Appeals Judge Retires and Hurdles for Cannabis Industry

3.26.2021

By Brendan Kennedy

A shockwave went through the New York legal community on Tuesday when Court of Appeals Associate Judge Paul G. Feinman suddenly announced his retirement, citing health problems. The unexpected news brought comments and remarks from leaders of the organized bar and notable members of the New York legal community.

NYSBA President Scott Karson issued a statement on Tuesday, praising Judge Feinman, calling him “a champion of the LGBTQ community.”

President Karson was quoted in a New York Law Journal story alongside Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, State Senator Brad Hoylman and other leaders from the organized bar.

The Albany-Times Union and Law 360 also quoted President Karson in an article remarking on the “tremendous loss” Judge Feinman’s departure will have on the Court of Appeals.

Social Media

As the news of Judge Feinman’s retirement began circulating on social media, many news and political reporters had the news broken to them by a NYSBA tweet. Within hours the tweet had been seen nearly 40,000 times.

This will create a vacancy on the New York State Court of Appeals, which is the Empire State’s highest court.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) nominates judges to the COA picked from a list provided by a screening panel.

COA judges sit in an impeachment trial with state senators. https://t.co/eN3pGlV6yM

— Jimmy Vielkind (@JimmyVielkind) March 23, 2021

Worth noting that Cuomo nominates Court of Appeals judges, who are confirmed by the Senate.

The Court of Appeals would sit with the Senate in any potential impeachment trials. So there’s the potential for some very unique end-of-session dynamics around this vacancy. https://t.co/1I9XCvT0jk

— Bill Mahoney (@mahoneyw) March 23, 2021

Judge Feinman was a trailblazer as the first out LGBTQI judge on the New York Court of Appeals. We thank him for his service and wish him well. https://t.co/DqzdoIjxNq

— Equality New York (@EqualityNewYork) March 23, 2021

Cannabis

With New York inching closer to the legalization of adult-use cannabis, questions remain about how the industry will deal with federal banking restrictions. Aleece Burgio, chair of NYSBA’s Committee on Cannabis and the Law, was quoted by WBEN (Buffalo) in a story on this topic.