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Gov. Hochul speaks at Investiture Ceremony for 3 Court of Appeals judges

Judge Cannataro presided at Brooklyn Family Court

April 6, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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Gov. Kathy Hochul recently visited the New York State Court of Appeals in Albany to deliver remarks at the investitures of Hon. Madeline Singas, Hon. Anthony Cannataro and Hon. Shirley Troutman as associated judges of the Court of Appeals, the highest state court in New York.

In particular, Judge Cannataro’s judicial career began in 2012, soon after he was elected to the state Civil Court, when he was appointed by then-Chief Administrative Judge Gail Prudenti to Kings County Family Court. He then became a Civil Court judge in Bronx County, supervising judge in Civil Court, acting Supreme Court judge (Civil Term), and most recently administrative judge in the Civil Court for the City of New York. He is also the second openly gay judge to have served on the Court of Appeals.

NYS Court of Appeals Judge Madeline Singas. Photo courtesy of Historical Society of the NY Court

Hochul told Cannataro, “So you certainly know your place around, this is not new to you, but also to bring your talents and again, your life’s experience as again, a first-generation American, son of Italian immigrants, who represent 15 percent of our population. And so, the perspective of people coming here and the struggles that new Americans have is something that brings you the certain perspective that you offer all of us in the court.”

Judge Singas has been a special prosecutor, special attorney general and district attorney of Nassau County. As a prosecutor, she often worked with special victims and domestic violence cases. 

NYS Court of Appeals Judge Anthony Cannataro. Wikimedia photo by Interloq

Of Judge Singas, Hochul said, “She’s also … the daughter of Greek immigrants. And she often had to serve as a translator for her parents. She had to become their voice, and that’s incredible. And she said that she was motivated by having to be a voice for her parents and their family to be a voice for others in public service. I think that’s beautiful. And now she’ll have a voice for all New Yorkers here on the highest court.”

Judge Troutman grew up in Buffalo, graduated from the University of Buffalo and received her law degree from the University of Albany. Her positions have included assistant district attorney, assistant at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, trial court judge, acting state Supreme Court judge and finally elected Supreme Court judge.

“And she also is steeled in the knowledge of people who’ve been oppressed, knowing that her own parents had escaped a very segregated South, came up from Georgia, so their own children could have an opportunity for a better education,” said Gov. Hochul, adding that her parents gave her the opportunity “to live a very different life in a place like New York.” 

NYS Court of Appeals Judge Shirley Troutman.
Photo courtesy of NYS Bar Association

Hochul also praised other dignitaries who were present including Attorney General Letitia James, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Solicitor General Barbara Underwood, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and others. 

“The Chief Judge [Janet DiFiore] mentioned I’ve served every level of government; I haven’t been a judge yet, but I think I’m good,” Hochul said.

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