How a Chief Judge Is Prepping for the Holiday: New York Brief

Chief Judges: They’re Just Like Us

It’s not just you looking to roll into the holiday.

Judge Rowan Wilson, who leads New York’s top tribunal and its court system, is thinking about whether or not to bring yams to his in-law’s home for Thanksgiving. “I had in mind that I’m going to get a lot of work done today, but I’m not sure I’m getting there,” he said by phone.

MV: It’s been a year. As you reflect on it, what are you grateful for?

RW: My leadership team at the courts, and the judges and employees of the court system. Everybody is rowing in the same direction. When we disagree about administrative issues, people hear each other out. They respond thoughtfully, and they’re not disgruntled if something doesn’t go the way that they came in presenting it.

The other thing is, I’m very thankful to be in the state court system instead of the federal.

For one thing, it didn’t shut down.

RW: That’s a major thing.

Something like 98% of case filings are in state courts. We don’t get 98% of the attention, but that’s fine. In terms of who’s doing the laboring day-to-day work of addressing the problems people have, that’s state courts. It’s nice to be closer to the ground.

What’s your Thanksgiving message to the legal community?

RW: A lot of the year we spend worrying about things that could be better, things that have gone wrong. It’s nice to have a day when you try to remember that we have a lot of blessings. You’re with people, hopefully, that you’re close to, and can be thankful, if nothing else, for them.

What are you good at cooking?

RW: I’m pretty versatile. I don’t follow recipes. I just sort of cook intuitively.

Is that also how you decide cases, or you’re more by-the-book there?

RW: Good question. Yeah, I probably stray from the recipes a little more than most.

They Said It

“There are definitely some areas of concern for me in private markets. People should know that the financial regulators and the department are looking at those.”

—Manhattan US Attorney Jay Clayton offers a warning in an interview with Bloomberg News. His remarks come amid scrutiny from investors over how private equity and private credit firms value their assets. Read More

From State Courts

Judging Over the Age of 76

• A trio of judges lost their challenge to New York’s mandatory judicial retirement age of 76. The plaintiffs can’t prove the state’s ban on age-based discrimination makes all age restriction laws—or this one—unconstitutional, said Manhattan state court Judge Lyle E. Frank. Read More

Cab Driver Victory

• New York City’s iconic (and dwindling) yellow taxis scored a win in a battle against giants like Uber. An intermediate appellate state court said unanimously on Tuesday that traditional “street hail” drivers could be harmed by an expanded ride-share program, aimed at adding over 2,000 “for hire” competitors to city streets. Read More

Amicus Limits

• State court amicus briefs addressing a statute’s intent can’t include lawmakers’ views “outside of the publicly available contemporaneous legislative history,” the Court of Appeals said Monday in a notice to the bar. The rule appears to rein in the use of supportive letters from lawmakers. The court didn’t explain its reasoning.
  
  • “The rule seems designed to protect the court from being criticized as insufficiently nonpartisan by limiting the political arguments that legislators can make,” New York County Lawyers Association President Richard P. Swanson told me.

Bragg’s Patz Trial

• DA Alvin Bragg’s office said in a letter to a Manhattan criminal court on Tuesday that it will retry Pedro Hernandez for the 1979 murder of Etan Patz. “The available, admissible evidence supports” the case, the office said. Hernandez, who maintains his innocence, saw his conviction overturned earlier this year.

By the Way...

• School Settlements: Gov. Hochul signed legislation expanding bonding authority for school districts paying up under the Child Victims Act. Districts facing sex abuse suits under the CVA’s expanded statute of limitations can now issue bonds for up to 30 years. (NYLJ)
  
• New York Hustle: Instagram influencer Pei-Yun Chung “has distinguished herself by not paying her bills” at Brooklyn restaurants after taking photos of lavish spreads, police say. She’s now at Rikers. (NYT)
  
• Toy Takeover: The Macy’s Parade will debut a Labubu float, naturally. (AP)

Leading the News

Trump Administration Sued by States Over Homelessness Funding

The Trump administration was sued by a group of states over changes to a federal housing-assistance program that allegedly put $3 billion in funding at risk and could force 170,000 people onto the streets.

US Investor Suits Over Foreign-Born Securities Show Law in Flux

In just a matter of months, three rulings and a one settlement showed just how scattered courts are on whether US law reaches some American depositary receipts, stand-ins for stock traded on foreign exchanges.

DOJ Demands Data Troves From US Attorneys on Trump Mandates

The Justice Department sent US attorneys scrambling this week to meet a pre-Thanksgiving deadline to collect troves of data demonstrating compliance with Trump-directed crackdowns on immigration, political violence, and other priorities.

Finance

Hassett Emerges as Frontrunner in Trump Fed Chair Audition

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett is seen by advisers and allies of President Donald Trump as the frontrunner to be the next Federal Reserve chair, according to people familiar with the matter, as the search for a new central bank leader enters its final weeks.

Wall Street’s Macro Traders Eye Biggest Haul in 16 Years

Wall Street’s macro traders are headed for their best year since 2009 as clients rushed to place bets on changing interest rate policies by central banks around the world.

Ackman’s Pershing Targets $5 Billion IPO for Closed-End Fund

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman aims to raise $5 billion for his US-listed closed-end fund, including $2 billion from well-known institutional investors anchoring the deal, according to people with knowledge of the offering.

Bank of America Warns of Mounting Credit Risks as Gambling Booms

Bank of America is sounding the alarm over the explosive growth of prediction markets and sports gambling, warning it could lead consumers to take on too much debt and default on loans.

In the Courts

Hotel Rehabber Asks NY Appeals Court to Nix $15 Million Tax Bill

New York’s tax agency didn’t provide any evidence to support its assessment of $15 million in corporation franchise taxes, a company that refurbishes luxury hotels told a state appeals court.

Ex-Commodities Trader Gets 3 Years in Prison for Hiding Losses

A fomer commodities trader in Houston was ordered to spend three years behind bars after admitting to hiding hundreds of millions of dollars in losses from his employer to secure a hefty bonus.

NYC Sheds Landlord Challenge to Section 8 Requirement Law

The Second Circuit shut down efforts to revive a lawsuit challenging a New York City law requiring landlords who participate in Section 8 housing to allow searches of their premises.

New York Man Gets 15 Years for Check Cashing, Tax Fraud Scheme

A New York man was sentenced to 15 years for running an illegal underground check-cashing business to help construction companies avoid paying taxes.

Manhattan Lexus Dealer to Pay $695,000 to Settle Junk Fax Suit

A New York City Lexus dealer would pay $695,000 under a deal given initial approval in federal court to settle a class action alleging it sent unsolicited text messages to customers of an affiliated Honda dealership in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

StubHub IPO Investor Sues Over Financial Results, Stock Drop

StubHub Holdings Inc.‘s initial public offering paperwork misrepresented its free cash flow, leading to a stock decline after its third-quarter financial results were announced, an investor’s proposed class action said.

Policy & Politics

NYC’s Adams Pushes Rent Board Changes Before Mamdani Freeze Bid

Outgoing New York Mayor Eric Adams is racing to fill key positions before Zohran Mamdani takes office, including on the powerful Rent Guidelines Board, which could undermine the incoming mayor’s pledge to freeze rents on more than 1 million stabilized apartments.

Swalwell Claims Pulte Abused Power to Target Trump Critics

Representative Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat who has been a frequent critic of Donald Trump, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday claiming Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte abused his power to retaliate against one of the president’s political opponents.

Commentary & Opinion

Comey, James Case Dismissals Don’t End Political Prosecutions

A federal judge ruled that Trump’s hand-picked US Attorney can’t legally indict James Comey or Letitia James. An important question remains unanswered: Can a president direct a properly appointed prosecutor to charge specified individuals?

We Need to Talk About Kevin Hassett at the Fed: John Authers

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