NYS chief judge set to retire, commission seeks candidates for post

May 14, 2015 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman. Eagle file photo

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The New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination this week announced that it is seeking recommendations and applications of people who may be qualified to serve as chief judge of the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals of the State of New York, as well as chief judge of the state of New York.

On Jan. 1, 2016, a vacancy will exist, due to Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman’s mandatory retirement by reason of age. Under the Constitution of the State of New York, judges of the court must retire at the end of the year in which they turn 70.

Candidates for Chief Judge Lippman’s vacancy may download an application from the commission’s website, and applications must be submitted to the commission no later than July 13. Candidates must be admitted to practice law in New York state for at least 10 years.

The commission was created by Article 6, Section 2 of the New York State Constitution and is responsible for evaluating and recommending to the governor, candidates to fill vacancies on the Court of Appeals. The commission will then nominate seven candidates for the governor’s appointment.

The governor’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the New York State Senate.

As part of the commission’s process of identifying and nominating potential candidates, it will conduct one or more public informational meetings to discuss the requirements for the position and the commission’s procedures and rules for submitting recommendations for qualified candidates.

The meetings will be open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend and express their views (orally or in writing) about community needs, the general qualifications for judicial office and the nominating process.

While prospective candidates must file an application with the commission, recommendations may be made by anyone who believes that a prospective candidate could be an excellent chief judge of the Court of Appeals and the state of New York. Recommendations of qualified candidates for a vacancy are encouraged and may be made to the Commission’s Counsel.

-Information provided by the New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination.