NY Senate to consider Cuomo choice for top judge

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore was unanimously confirmed Thursday as the state’s chief judge to lead the Court of Appeals and the state’s judicial branch. Cuomo praised Garcia as “a talented, experienced and skilled prosecutor” who will bring “the kind of broad, well-rounded perspective on the law that our state’s highest court requires”.

Janet DiFiore is officially New York’s top state judge.

Cuomo, a two-term Democrat who doesn’t face re-election until 2018, also reports spending $1.7 million in campaign funds since July. Thomas O’Mara, R-Big Flats, Chemung County.

DiFiore was also Cuomo’s first appointee to head state Joint Commission on Public Ethics, resigning in 2013.

“Yes I do, sir”, DiFiore answered.

DiFiore was confirmed a day after the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended her approval and Cuomo nominated Republican Michael Garcia for another vacant Court of Appeals post.

“I think you’re a human being of deep substance”, Bonacic said.

The 60-year-old DiFiore would replace Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, who had to retire this year after turning 70 last year. She told the committee that she will take any case concerning guns and the second amendment, on the merits, but surprised many when revealed that she, too, is a gun owner. At least four judges must agree to decide a case, meaning four of the five now seated judges would have to come down on the same side in order for a case to be decided. The first woman chief judge Judith Kaye, was chosen by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s father, Governor Mario Cuomo. While the Senate was required by law to act on the nomination within 30 days, there was little appetite to call senators back to Albany before the legislative session began January 6. The governor has taken a number of executive actions recently that have angered Senate Republicans, including on raising the minimum wage and raising the age where youth accused of crimes can be sentenced to state prison.