Nominees to Fill Judge Paul Feinman’s Court of Appeals Seat Announced

Nominees to Fill Judge Paul Feinman’s Court of Appeals Seat Announced

4.30.2021

By Christian Nolan

Good morning Members,

The New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination released the names of seven nominees who in their judgment are well qualified to fill the vacancy on the Court of Appeals created by the recent retirement and passing of Judge Paul G. Feinman.

The commission’s seven nominees are:

• Michael S. Bosworth, attorney in private practice at Latham & Watkins
• Anthony Cannataro, citywide administrative judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York and a justice of the Supreme Court
• Judith J. Gische, associate justice, Appellate Division, First Department
• Caitlin J. Halligan, attorney in private practice at Selendy & Gay
• Denise A. Hartman, judge of the Court of Claims and acting justice of the Supreme Court
• Erin M. Peradotto, associate justice, Appellate Division, Fourth Department
• Troy Karen Webber, associate justice, Appellate Division, First Department

Feinman had joined the Court of Appeals as an associate judge on June 21, 2017 after the state Senate confirmed his appointment from the governor. His nomination was historic, as he was the first gay judge on the state Court of Appeals. The news of Feinman’s death on March 31, 2021 came just eight days after the sudden announcement of his retirement for health reasons.

Some members of the legal community in recent weeks have stressed the importance of maintaining LGBTQ diversity on New York’s highest court. Two of the nominees to fill Feinman’s seat – Bosworth and Cannataro – are gay.

Also, two of the candidates – Halligan and Peradotto – were previously announced as nominees by the Commission on Judicial Nomination earlier this month to fill the seat created by Associate Judge Leslie E. Stein’s retirement effective June 4, 2021.

Additionally, Gische and Webber were nominees in 2017 for the seat that was ultimately filled by Feinman after the death of Associate Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam. All four – Halligan, Peradotto, Gische and Webber – have previously been rated well qualified by the New York State Bar Association. NYSBA has evaluated candidates for the Court of Appeals since 1967. (Click here to see NYSBA’s recent ratings of the nominees to replace Stein.)

The next scheduled vacancy on the Court of Appeals will occur on Jan. 1, 2022, as Associate Judge Eugene M. Fahey reaches the mandatory retirement age.

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