New York State Bar Association Begins Review of Candidates for Chief Judge

New York State Bar Association Begins Review of Candidates for Chief Judge

11.29.2022

By Jennifer Andrus

Members of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee to Review Judicial Nominations are prepared to begin interviewing the seven nominees for chief judge that the Commission on Judicial Nominations submitted to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Nov. 23.

The committee has scheduled interviews for Dec. 5 and will rate each candidate as either “well qualified, qualified, or not qualified.”

President Sherry Levin Wallach says the association is honored to be a part of the process and will deliver its ratings within the required 15 days from the release of the list of candidates.

The names submitted to Gov. Hochul included candidates from the bench, the practicing bar and academia. They are:

• Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals and Acting Chief Judge Anthony Cannataro
• Abbe R. Gluck, Alfred M. Rankin professor of law and faculty director of the Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy, Yale Law School, and professor of internal medicine, Yale Medical School
• Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, Second Department, Hector D. LaSalle
•  Associate Justice, Appellate Division, First Department, Jeffrey K. Oing
•  Alicia Ouellette, president and dean, Albany Law School
• Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson, judge of the Court of Claims and acting justice of the Supreme Court
• Corey L. Stoughton,  attorney-in-charge, special litigation and law reform, The Legal Aid Society

According to the letter presented to Hochul, the commission finds the seven candidates are “well qualified, by virtue of their character, temperament, professional attitude, experience, qualifications and fitness for office.”

The commission interviewed 17 of the 41 candidates who applied. Ten candidates were women and seven were from an ethnic minority, according to the letter presented to the governor.

Hochul is required to make a selection for chief judge from one of the seven candidates by Dec. 23. The New York State Senate will then schedule confirmation hearings.

The chief judge vacancy follows the resignation of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore in August. She held the position for six years.