Paterson Nominates Lippman to be Top Judge

Governor David Paterson appointed Jonathan Lippman to become the chief justice of the NY Court of Appeals, the state's highest court. Paterson said praised Lippman, the presiding justice of the First Judicial Department of the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court, for "the implementation of nationally significant reforms, including jury reform, contributed to the creation of problem-solving courts, such as special drug courts and domestic violence courts" and his "role in keeping the courts open after the attacks on Sept. 11." Outgoing chief justice Judith Kaye stepped down due to the mandatory retirement age and Paterson still isn't happy that the nominees were all men, "Though I am thrilled to choose Judge Lippman to serve as our next chief judge, I firmly believe that we must revise the process for future judicial nominations to ensure that those under consideration represent all New Yorkers." Fun fact: Lippman is a childhood friend of Sheldon Silver.