Hochul Nominates New Chief Judge for New York State.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has nominated Rowan D. Wilson, an associate judge who already serves on the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, to lead it as chief judge. The nomination comes after state lawmakers rejected the governor’s original choice for chief judge, Justice Hector D. LaSalle, earlier this year. Wilson's potential elevation could alter the perceived ideological bent of the Court of Appeals, which critics say had drifted to the right under the former chief judge, Janet DiFiore. The confirmation process is expected to be smoother this time.