Cuomo picks for New York’s top court approved despite concerns and progressive resistance
ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo’s last-minute picks to fill vacancies on the state’s highest court were confirmed Tuesday by the state Senate despite opposition from progressives and Republicans alike.
Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas and city administrative Judge Anthony Cannataro will fill a pair of vacancies on the seven-member Court of Appeals, following an unusually contentious confirmation process days before the end of the legislative session.
Left-leaning Democratic lawmakers took issue with Singas over her prosecutorial record, pushing back against her nomination during a testy hearing ahead of an afternoon floor vote.
“I cannot in good faith vote in favor of DA Singas’ nomination,” Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx) said ahead of the vote. “Throughout DA Singas’ long career as a prosecutor, what has occurred to me, is that she has sided with harmful criminal justice policies.”
Earlier, Biaggi and others pressed Singas about her background and expressed concerns about her office’s response to recent changes to bail and discovery laws.
Republicans, meanwhile, voiced concern about Cuomo appointing judges who could hypothetically serve alongside the Senate in hearing an impeachment case against the embattled governor.
The Assembly is currently conducting an impeachment investigation into sexual harassment claims made against the governor and other issues related to the administration’s handling of the COVID pandemic. Critics slammed Cuomo for moving forward with the nominations after blowing past mandated deadlines and sending them to the Senate just days before the Legislature wraps for the year.
Singas was chosen to fill the vacancy of retiring Judge Leslie Stein while Cuomo picked Cannataro to replace Judge Paul Feinman who passed away in March. Both will serve 14-year terms on the Appeals court.
The typically mundane confirmation process was upended by the opposition as Biaggi and four other Dems issued a statement opposing Singas hours before her nomination was set to be considered.
“As Senators committed to dismantling systemic racism within our criminal justice system, we believe District Attorney Singas’ past support for maintaining draconian criminal justice policies renders her unfit to serve in our highest court,” the lawmakers said. “We plan to vote against her nomination, and we urge our colleagues to do the same.”
Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan), the chair of the Judiciary Committee, made no recommendation during the hearing. The move elicited ire from critics who questioned his relationship with the governor after he received support from close Cuomo allies in his bid for Manhattan borough president.
“I regret voting for @bradhoylman for Manhattan Borough President. (I had to vote absentee.) I thought he was more principled than this,” tweeted NYU law professor Rachel Barkow. “He certainly has no business calling himself a progressive if he can’t fight this nomination.”
Other Dems, including Sens. Todd Kaminsky and Kevin Thomas, both of whom represent parts of Nassau County, defended Singas’ record and spoke in favor of her confirmation.
During her testimony, Singas defended her past as a prosecutor and vowed to act independently as a judge on the state’s highest court.
“I don’t think it’s fair to be placed into a box because of my profession, because of how I chose to conduct my public service,” Singas said. “And I think that people should look at my record.”
