Brentwood Judge Hector LaSalle Rejected By State Senate: Hochul

BRENTWOOD, NY — The New York State Senate rejected Gov. Kathy Hochul’s nominee to lead the state’s highest court.

Judge Hector LaSalle, of Brentwood, was rejected to be chief judge of the New York state Court of Appeals hon Wednesday by a 39 to 20 vote in Albany, The New York Times reported.

The decision comes one month after a senate panel rejected LaSalle.

The Senate had moved the judge’s nomination to the chamber floor in a surprise decision on Wednesday, The New York Times reported.

LaSalle faced a growing opposition since Hochul nominated him in December after several senators expressed his background to be too conservative on issues like abortion, and criminal defense.

Senate Democrats had argued that the Jan. 18 vote by the Judiciary Committee amounted to a full rejection of Justice LaSalle, T he New York Times reported. But Hochul insisted that the Senate was constitutionally required to hold a floor vote as well, so that all 63 senators could weigh in on the nomination.

"As I have said from the very beginning, the Constitution requires a full Senate vote on a Governor's nomination for Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals," said Hochul in a statement. "While long overdue, the Senate has finally acquiesced to a vote on the floor on the nomination of Justice Hector LaSalle."

If appointed, he would have become the first Latino chief judge.

"This vote is an important victory for the Constitution," Hochul said. "But it was not a vote on the merits of Justice LaSalle, who is an overwhelmingly qualified and talented jurist."

Now that a decision on LaSalle has officially been made, she will continue to find a suitable candidate for the position.

They would replace former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, who abruptly resigned earlier this year in the middle of her term, Gothamist reported.

"Now that the full Senate has taken a vote, I will work toward making a new nomination," said Hochul. "I remain committed to selecting a qualified candidate to lead the court and deliver justice. That is what New Yorkers deserve."