By Mark Scott
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-800245.mp3
Albany, NY – Governor David Paterson and State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo are exploring their legal options surrounding the appointment of a new chief judge to the state Court of Appeals.
Current Chief Judge Judith Kaye is retiring at the end of the year. By law, the Commission on Judicial Nomination was required to compile a list of seven possible replacements to Governor Paterson. That list was given to him on Monday. And to his dismay, Paterson said there were no female candidates on it.
But two current members of the Court of Appeals are -- Eugene Pigott, Jr. of Buffalo and Theodore Jones Jr., who, if named by the Governor, would be the state's first African-American chief judge.
Paterson's chief counsel Peter Kiernan said the commission did not submit a detailed report of their deliberations and that the applicant pool appeared to be quite limited.
Still, it's uncertain what legal remedies are available. Paterson himself said he won't ask the commission to begin its process again because that would be unfair to the seven candidates who are now under consideration. He admits that any changes would occur in the future.
Paterson has from January 1st to the 15th to make the appointment.
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