Governor Paterson and Attorney General Cuomo are absolutely correct in pointing out the lack of diversity among the candidates recommended to succeed Chief Judge Judith Kaye, who after 25 years of public service is retiring from our State’s highest court.

As an elected official serving one of the most diverse states in our country, I find it extremely disconcerting that the New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination was unable to recommend at least one qualified woman or Hispanic candidate to lead New York’s Court of Appeals.

The job of New York’s judicial branch is to interpret the laws of our state in a way that fully reflects a diversity of opinion. While the Commission recommended a panel of candidates that includes seven knowledgeable and experienced adjudicators, this list fails to provide Governor Paterson an opportunity to select a qualified candidate that represents the broad backgrounds of New Yorkers.