Judith Kaye, first woman chief judge, has died

Kaye was the first female Court of Appeals judge and later the first female chief judge, serving in that role for over 15 years.

In a statement late Thursday morning, Acting Court of Appeals Chief Judge Eugene Pigott confirmed Kaye had died Wednesday night.

Following her report, State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher announced SUNY would take steps to strengthen the relationship between academics and athletics at Binghamton University and across the SUNY System.

Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Senate’s Democratic leader, said Kaye was “a towering figure in NY state”. David Paterson’s acceptance of free World Series tickets at Yankee Stadium.

He described her as “an exemplary role model for women everywhere” and a jurist who was “an outspoken opponent of the death penalty, believed in the fundamental promise of equal rights for all New Yorkers, and dedicated herself to strengthening our judicial system and our juries, along with many other worthy causes”. Most recently we were proud to collaborate with her on the introduction of legislation by Assembly Education Chair Cathy Nolan to reform school discipline practices statewide to dramatically reduce suspensions and school-based arrests, end the severe racial disparities in school discipline, and create positive and supportive school climates for students and educators. Her first job as a lawyer was as an associate at the Manhattan firm Sullivan and Cromwell.

She had since worked in private practice and served on a number of commissions. In CFE the Court of Appeals found that New York State was failing to meet its constitutional obligation to provide all students with a “sound, basic education”. “She has been an inspiration to all of us who were privileged to know her and she will be greatly missed”. In her dissent she asserted that the amount of funding ordered by the court was not enough. Her passing is a tremendous loss for our state.