ALBANY- This past week saw major shifts in New York’s highest court as Judge Rowan Wilson was confirmed as the new Chief Judge and former State Solicitor General Caitlin Halligan was confirmed to replace Wilson as an Associate Judge on the Court of Appeals. This week’s action puts an end to the turmoil that surrounded the court after Governor Hochuli’s first choice as Chief Judge, Hector LaSalle was summarily rejected by the Democrat-controlled State Senate.
Wilson began his career as Clerk to James R. Browning, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals in the 9th circuit. Later he became a partner at Cravath, Swain, and Moore where he led the firm’s pro bono practice and served as a Trustee at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. In 2017 he was nominated by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo as an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals and confirmed by the Senate. Caitlin Halligan also served as Law Clerk in the District of Columbia Circuit and in private practice. She was appointed Solicitor General of New York State in 2001 and served until 2007. She was twice nominated for Federal Judgeships under President Obama, but the U.S. Senate never acted on her appointment.
Wilson was confirmed in a 40-19 party-line vote, while Halligan drew bipartisan support with her appointment confirmed 47-12. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins praised Wilson as someone who will “bring honor to our court and help lead it in a new direction that will stand up for all New Yorkers.” However, Republican Senator Anthony Palumbo, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee cast Wilson as “an activist judge acting in a way that is contrary to common sense and the law,” as he cast his no vote.
Despite the disagreement on the floor regarding Wilson and to a lesser extent Halligan, their confirmations were smooth sailing compared with the contentious fight over Hochul’s original Chief Judge nominee Hector Lasalle. Lasalle was opposed by unions and a strong coalition of progressive activists upset with his previous decisions and the fact that he had run on the Conservative Party Line in past elections. As a result, Lasalle was rejected by the Democrat-controlled Judiciary Committee and later by the full Senate after Republicans sued to force a full Senate vote on the nomination.
Governor Hochul seemed pleased to have this fight behind her and praised both Wilson and Halligan in press releases following their confirmation. She called Wilson “A highly qualified jurist with a keen sense of fairness,” and said she is confident Halligan will “be a phenomenal addition to our state’s highest court.”
