Press Release: Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club rejects the nomination of Justice Hector LaSalle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allen Roskoff - 917-553-7180, aroskoff@mac.com

NEW YORK -- The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club calls on the New York State Senate to reject the nomination of Justice Hector LaSalle to serve as Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.

We previously opposed the potential nomination of Judge Cannataro for the chief judgeship because we recognized that, although he would bring critical diversity to the court as an openly gay man, he has consistently privileged the interests of the powerful over those of marginalized New Yorkers. So too with Justice LaSalle. His disturbing record on gender justice, labor, and the rights of those in the criminal legal system should be disqualifying, and his nomination is an insult to the many exceptional Latine jurists (including one current member of the Court of Appeals) who would make history without rolling back New Yorkers’ rights. 

The LGBTQIA+ community is under direct attack from our legal system, not only with our rights being rolled back, but also with overpolicing and over criminalization.  LGBTQIA+ Americans are incarcerated at triple the rate of others.  Promoting a judge who is among the least likely to hold for a criminal defendant puts our lives in danger: https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-hector-lasalle-is-the-wrong-chief-judge-20221228-nhwevl2uhbd73jwqxzefznlkxa-story.html.

We urge Senators to vote “no” on this nominee and call on the Governor to put forth a chief judge who reflects our values and will use their power to stand up for New Yorkers. This is our chance to stem the tide of conservative leadership of the New York State Court of Appeals. We must accept no less.