Justice Hector LaSalle Nominated as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York

NYCLA congratulates Justice Hector LaSalle for his nomination as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York. Justice LaSalle will be the first Latino Chief Judge of our state. He has served with distinction as presiding justice of the Second Department, overseeing one of the most active appellate dockets of any court in the country. He has extensive criminal and civil experience as a practitioner, having served as an ADA in Suffolk County, as a private practitioner and in the Attorney General’s Office. His experience on the Second Department and as presiding Justice of that court will enable him to confront the difficult administrative and adjudicatory functions that the Court of Appeals faces.

NYCLA also congratulates Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Edwina Richardson-Mendelson. Justice LaSalle has announced his intent to appoint Judge Richardson Mendelson as Chef Administrative Judge if he is confirmed as Chief Judge. She would be the first African American to serve in that capacity. She has worked with NYCLA on many of our pro bono initiatives and has always demonstrated a commitment to improving the administration of Justice and enhancing access to our courts for underserved populations. Her leadership of the Office for Justice Initiatives and the Equal Justice in the Courts Initiative demonstrate her passion for closing the justice gap in New York. She has experience as a Family Court Judge, the Queens County Supervising Family Court Judge, Administrative Judge of all New York City Family Courts, and as a Court of Claims judge. She is a consensus builder with immense administrative experience who will improve our Court system.

We also thank Acting Chief Judge Cannataro and Chief Administrative Judge Marks for their exemplary service.