Appellate Judge Allows Ravitch To Be Lieutenant Gov

The day after a State Supreme Court justice issued an injunction to block Governor Paterson's appointment of Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor, an Appellate judge lifted the injunction. Paterson's office issued a statement saying, "We remain confident that the courts ultimately will confirm that Gov. Paterson’s appointment of Lieutenant Gov. Richard Ravitch was valid and legally correct," while State Senate minority leader Dean Skelos (R-Long Island) who filed the suit against the appointment said, "The Governor might have bought himself a little time by getting a judge to give him a temporary stay pending a full hearing next week, but like former Chief Judge Sol Wachtler, Lieutenant Gov. Stan Lundine and virtually every legal scholar of note, I believe the courts will agree that Gov. Paterson violated the state’s constitution by attempting to name his own lieutenant governor." Paterson has said if Ravitch's appointment is blocked, he'll introduce a bill allowing governors to appoint lieutenant governors.