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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS, From State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. February 15, 2023:
| “Today, the Senate Majority will once again rise to our leadership responsibilities and end the ongoing distraction of the Justice Hector LaSalle nomination. We maintain that the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote on Justice LaSalle’s nomination was a faithful execution of the judicial nomination procedure. The Senate acted constitutionally by following our own set of rules, which as a separate branch of government, we are empowered to create and follow under the State Constitution. Despite being in accordance with our State laws, the outcome of that Judiciary hearing has not been accepted by all members of government. The recent court case brought by Republican Senators proves that prolonging the LaSalle nomination – which never had the requisite votes to pass – is merely a wedge issue to distract us from other pressing matters at hand. We have a state to run. The 2023-2024 $227 billion dollar budget is due in six weeks. Our highest court has no appointed Chief Judge, and we need the court system to function. This court case, if allowed to continue, would’ve dragged on for months and stymied our judicial system. It’s time to put this matter to rest.” (Editor’s Note: Previously the Senate Majority leader lead the Senate to vote to add three Democratic Senators not in favor of Judge LaSalle, (Chief Judge of the Appellate Court of Appeals) as Court of Appeals Chief Justice who would have been approved by the Republicans on the 16-member Judiciary Committee, had not State Senate Majority Leader added three more judges to the committee. The Committee vote not to approve Judge LaSalle, was 10-9, with the three Democratic Senators added all voting to reject Judge LaSalle. Politco quoted Governor Kathy Hochul on the circumstances of the rejection of Judge LaSalle in the State Senate Judiciary Committee: “While this was a thorough hearing, it was not a fair one, because the outcome was predetermined. Several senators stated how they were going to vote before the hearing even began — including those who were recently given seats on the newly expanded Judiciary Committee. While the Committee plays a role, we believe the Constitution requires action by the full Senate.”) |