After Judge Fracas, Hochul and Senate Unite on Vacancy Reforms (1)

After rebuking Gov. Kathy Hochul’s pick for the state’s top court, Senate Democrats are backing legislation that would make it easier for the governor to fill vacancies on the Court of Appeals.

If the governor selects a sitting associate judge to head the state’s Court of Appeals, she could then fill their position with a nominee from the list of recommendations provided to her by the state nominating commission, according to the proposed measure (S.6061/A.5983).

The bill, which Hochul proposed Monday and Senate Democrats backed Tuesday, comes after legislators rejected the governor’s pick to head ...