Ex-judge on top N.Y. court joins law firm in Albany

January 5, 2015 Associated Press

Victoria Graffeo, Eagle file photo by Mario Belluomo

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ALBANY— A judge who recently left New York’s highest court has joined a law firm as a partner in its Albany office.

Harris Beach says Judge Victoria Graffeo will lead its alternative dispute resolution practice group and work in its government compliance and investigations, appellate litigation and advocacy and commercial litigation groups.

Graffeo, a Republican, was appointed in 2000 to the Court of Appeals by then Gov. George Pataki and authored more than 250 majority opinions. Her 14-year term expired.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has nominated Appellate Division Justice Leslie Stein to take Graffeo’s seat.

The Court of Appeals currently has only five members, the minimum for a quorum, since Judge Robert Smith reached mandatory retirement age and stepped down this year.

Four judges must concur in outcomes to decide cases.