Web Desk:
According to the national media, New York Governor Kathy Hochul nominated Judge Hector LaSalle to serve as the next chief judge of the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeal.
“He has the skills, experience, and intellect to ensure that our highest court is seen as a leader across the country”, Hochul said in a statement.
If approved by the democrat-led Senate, LaSalle would be the first Latino to lead the Court of Appeals and serve as head administrator for the sprawling statewide court system.
LaSalle is a Long Island native and former prosecutor who is currently the presiding justice of the state’s 2nd Appellate Division, which handles appeals from state courts in Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island.
He was elected as a State Supreme Court justice in 2008 and appointed to the 2nd Appellate Division in 2014. He became the presiding judge of the division last year.
The nomination, however, drew immediate pushback from progressive lawmakers, unions, and advocates who hoped Hochul would pick someone with a less conservative background to lead the judiciary.
The Senate has 30 days to vote on Hochul’s choice. Senators return to Albany for the start of the legislative session on Jan. 4.
