NY Senate Committee Poised to Reject Hochul’s Chief Judge Pick

Frustrated Democrats say they’re ready to sink Gov. Kathy Hochul’s pick to head New York’s highest court because of the nominee’s decisions in organized labor and abortion cases—arguing he’s too conservative.

If state senators refuse to allow a floor vote on the elevation of Justice Hector D. LaSalle, the Court of Appeals will continue to have a 3-3 partisan deadlock. Those involved in the confirmation process disagree about what the next steps would be because no judicial nomination has failed at the committee stage since the current system was put in place in 1978.

LaSalle, presiding justice of the New ...