With Vacancy on Court of Appeals, Commission on Judicial Nomination Seeks Applications

With Vacancy on Court of Appeals, Commission on Judicial Nomination Seeks Applications

3.24.2021

By Christian Nolan

The New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination has announced that is it seeking applications for associate judge on the Court of Appeals after Judge Paul G. Feinman retired March 23 for health reasons.

“Judge Feinman is an extraordinary person and a distinguished jurist who epitomizes the scholarship and collegiality that are hallmarks of the Court of Appeals,” said a news release from the Commission on Judicial Nomination. “The commission is now taking up the task of filling the void left on the court by his retirement, following the procedures established by Judiciary Law Section §68(2).”

The Court of Appeals will also have another vacancy on June 4, 2021 when Associate Judge Leslie E. Stein retires. Candidates who currently have pending applications with the commission for her vacancy will also be considered in connection with the vacancy left by Feinman’s retirement and do not need to submit a new application.

The commission is currently in the process of evaluating candidates for the upcoming Judge Stein vacancy, and the commission will issue its report to the governor on or about April 9, 2021, according to the commission.

For Feinman’s vacancy, the commission must make its report to the governor within 120 days from receipt of notice of such vacancy, as required by law.

“The commission is mindful of the extraordinary circumstances presented by Judge Feinman’s unexpected retirement and the need to swiftly fill the resulting vacancy on the Court of Appeals,” the commission’s news release said. “The commission will promptly discharge its constitutional and statutory responsibilities and nominate and recommend to the governor three to seven well-qualified candidates.”

Candidates for Judge Feinman’s vacancy may download application forms from the commission’s website at www.nysegov.com/cjn or contact the commission’s counsel, Henry M. Greenberg, c/o Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 54 State Street, 6th Floor, Albany, New York 12208 (Greenberg may also be reached by telephone: (518) 689-1492; e-mail: greenbergh@gtlaw.com; or fax: (518) 689-1499.)

Applications may be filed electronically by e-mailing them to CJN_Applications@gtlaw.com or submitted by mail to the commission’s counsel. The deadline to submit applications is April 8, 2021.