Hochul’s pick for NY top judge rejected by legislative panel
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s nominee to lead the state’s highest court was rejected by a state Senate panel Wednesday, dealing the governor a high-profile setback after weeks of criticism from progressive activists and union officials about the judge’s record.
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted not to forward Hector LaSalle’s Court of Appeals nomination to the full Senate after questioning him for more than four hours. Most of Hochul’s fellow Democrats voted against LaSalle.
“The nominee was thoughtful, engaged and responsive,” said Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who chairs the judicial committee. “But I believe that there were questions that remain.”
The governor nominated LaSalle just before Christmas, hoping he would become the first Latino to lead the seven-member high court and oversee New York’s judicial system. The state Senate routinely approves such nominees, but Hochul’s pick ran into trouble after a vocal coalition of opponents claimed LaSalle’s judicial record was too conservative.