New York Magazine: Democrats Defeat Kathy Hochul’s Pick to Be New York’s Top Judge

Lawmakers rejected Governor Kathy Hochul’s pick to lead the state’s highest court Wednesday with her own party dealing a significant blow to the effort. The State Senate Judiciary Committee voted to reject the nomination of Hector LaSalle to be chief justice of the Court of Appeals, led by opposition from Democrats on the panel who believed he was too conservative. …

Although the panel voted 10-9 against advancing LaSalle’s nomination to a vote before the full State Senate, Hochul may not take “no” for an answer. The Buffalo News reported the governor is considering taking legal action to force a vote, which she hinted at in a statement following the panel’s rejection.

“While this was a thorough hearing, it was not a fair one, because the outcome was predetermined. Several Senators stated how they were going to vote before the hearing even began – including those who were recently given seats on the newly expanded Judiciary Committee. While the Committee plays a role, we believe the Constitution requires action by the full Senate,” Hochul said in a statement, echoing the position of Republican senate leader Rob Ortt, who said in a statement that the committee “failed to follow its Constitutional responsibility” by blocking LaSalle’s nomination.

Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause New York, said she was “horrified” Hochul was contemplating hiring a litigator, adding that it would be “a brutal attack on a democratically elected institution.”