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ALBANY, N.Y., April 19 (AP) — The New York Senate on Tuesday confirmed Rowan Wilson as the state’s first black chief justice, two months after lawmakers rejected Gov. ) initial nominee for the Supreme Court post, resulting in a political defeat.
Since 2017, Wilson has served as an associate justice on the New York Supreme Court’s Court of Appeals. Hocher appointed him earlier this month to head the seven-member high court and oversee the state’s judicial system. The confirmation vote comes after months of clashes between Hochul and her fellow Democrats who control the Senate over the direction of the court.
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“Judge Wilson has proven himself to be one of the most thoughtful, well-written and eloquent jurors in the nation and in the history of the appeals court,” said Sen. Brad Hoyleman-West, chairman of the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee. Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, on the floor.
Wilson’s nomination came after Hochul’s top choice, Hector LaSalle, faced fierce criticism from liberal senators and their allies for his decisions as an appeals judge.
The Senate rejected LaSalle in an unprecedented move in February. LaSalle will be the first Latina to lead the high court.
Wilson, 62, is more popular with liberals who have praised the Harvard Law graduate’s record on civil rights, labor and environmental issues.
Wilson also took issue with a Supreme Court ruling last year that struck down a new congressional map that was widely seen as favoring Democrats.
The dissent has alarmed some Republicans because an appeals court could one day consider a Democratic-backed lawsuit seeking to force a redefine of New York’s congressional boundaries. The current map helped Republicans regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives last year.
Senate Republicans, who have described Wilson as an “activist judge,” focused their opposition on a decision he recently authored to overturn a rape conviction. Wilson cited years of delays by local prosecutors in pursuing the case.
“I think it’s a shocking result. I think it’s a misapplication of the law,” said Sen. Anthony Palumbo, the committee’s top Republican.
Wilson watched the debate in silence from the Senate gallery. He made no comment on the way out.
Wilson succeeds Judge Janet DiFiore, who resigned in August. He did affirm that there was a vacancy for an associate justice of the Supreme Court.
Hochle said she intends to nominate former state Attorney General Caitlin Halligan, who is currently a partner at a law firm in New York City, to fill the associate justice vacancy.
Halligan answered questions from the Judiciary Committee earlier Tuesday, establishing a fast-track confirmation process when Hochul is formally nominated. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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