Governor Kathy Hochul, in a matter of days, will select among seven candidates who will have the responsibility of directing the Court of Appeals of the Supreme Court of the state of New York. On the list of nominees is Dr. Héctor D. LaSalle, a judge of Puerto Rican origin and the only Hispanic in the group of applicants.
If selected, he would become the first Latino in history to hold that position.
This position is of transcendental importance not only to process and expedite the cases that reach the state’s superior court, but at a time when there is a deep polarization about which direction should have the administration of justice in New York.
The Commission The New York Judicial Nominating Committee presented the names to the state president this week, following the resignation of former chief judge Janet DiFiore last July.
In addition to D. LaSalle, among the applicants include Yale School Law Professor Abbe R. Gluck, Appellate Division Associate Justice Jeffrey K. Oing, President and Dean of the Yale Law School a University of Albany, Alicia Ouellette.
Also part of the group of nominees is Edwina G. Richardson -Mendelson, assistant administrative judge for judicial initiatives and Special Litigation, Corey L. Stoughton, attorney in charge of Legal Reform at The Legal Aid organization and Acting Chief Judge Anthony Cannataro.
“The pandemic had a huge impact in court operations and our new chief judge must work aggressively to restore the normal pace of judicial activity, especially criminal proceedings. In this case, it is in addition to protecting public safety,” Hochul said when faced with the challenge of choosing the holder of that position before 41 of December.
Once the Governor announces her selection, the State Senate will then have 54 days to confirm or reject your appointment.
In general, the commission received 1990 applications for the position.
The Bar Association of the Dominican Republic in a statement supported the nomination of the judge of Puerto Rican origin. They ponder that in addition to the series of academic credentials and the practice of law, he is the “only Latino” appointed by the commission to this key position in the State Administration of Justice.
“We are pleased to support a judge who shares the values and mission of our bar association: to support Latino members of this legal profession. Judge D. LaSalle was a founding member of the Long Island Hispanic Lawyers Association”, they highlighted.
This nominee to lead the highest state court, is currently Judge – President of the Appellate Division of the Second Judicial Department and has administrative experience in courts. He has more than 23 years of judicial career.
Likewise Similarly, the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association (LIHBA) wrote a letter of support to Governor Kathy Hochul, encouraging her to appoint D. LaSalle to this position.
In the letter, LIHBA executives promote the administrative skills of this jurist, as well as his connection and support to the Hispanic community.
“He previously served as president of LIHBA and was one of our founding members”, they underlined.
- 2021 Judge Héctor D. LaSalle, has 54 years old and was born in East Northport, Long Island.2021
- Previously, he was an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office from 1990 to 2002 and from 1999 to 2008 when he was the chief gang combat prosecutor and deputy director of the Office of Special Investigations. 2021
- Former assistant attorney general assigned to the medical malpractice section of the claims office at the New York State Attorney General’s Office from 1999 to 2008.2021 2021Received a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1990 and earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School at 1994.2021
- He was admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 1990.