Evaluations of Candidates for Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals

The New York City Bar Association has evaluated candidates recommended by the New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination for appointment as Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. The Association uses a two-tiered rating system to rate the candidates: Well Qualified and Not Well Qualified. The following are the City Bar’s ratings of the seven candidates:

• Hon. Anthony Cannataro – Well Qualified
• Abbe Gluck – Well Qualified
• Hon. Hector LaSalle – Well Qualified
• Hon. Jeffrey Oing – Not Well Qualified
• Alicia Ouellette – Well Qualified
• Hon. Edwina Richardson-Mendelson – Well Qualified
• Corey Stoughton –  Well Qualified

The City Bar’s Board of Directors extensively reviewed the background and qualifications of the candidates. Representatives of the Association’s Board, Judiciary Committee and State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction Committee interviewed each candidate and, for all candidates, reviewed their writings, investigated their background, and interviewed judges and lawyers familiar with the candidates. The Board then considered whether to rate each candidate “Well Qualified” or “Not Well Qualified” for the position of Chief  Judge of the Court of Appeals after considering the candidate’s intellectual ability, knowledge of the law, integrity, impartiality, judicial demeanor and temperament.

The criteria for each rating are as follows:

“Well Qualified”:  Consistent with the term “Well Qualified” as it is set forth in describing the Commission’s mandate in Judiciary Law Section 63(1) and in Article 6, Section 2 of the Constitution: candidates “who by their character, temperament, professional aptitude and experience are well qualified to hold such judicial office.”

“Not Well Qualified”:  Candidates who may be competent lawyers or judges but, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, do not meet the requisite standard for “Well Qualified” in one or more of the constitutional and statutory criteria of “character, temperament, professional aptitude and experience.”

In evaluating a candidate for Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, the Board of Directors should consider that the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals is also the Chief Judge of the State of New York, and the oversight and administrative powers and responsibilities that accompany this position.

The Governor must appoint one of the candidates between December 8 and December 23, and the State Senate must confirm or reject the Governor’s appointee no later than 30 days after receipt of that appointment.

Note: To ensure the integrity of the ratings process, the City Bar cannot comment beyond what is provided in this press release.