Judge heasrs arguments in Senate coup
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- June
- 11
Democrats and Republicans were battling in state Supreme Court this morning over whether a new Senate majority could take control of the chamber.
Republicans claimed that Democrats are creating chaos by not allowing the new majority to hold a session.
Democrats were seeking a temporary injunction to prevent the new majority from taking over, saying Republicans and two dissident Democrats illegally voted for a new majority on Monday.
“The people of the state of New York deserve an organized, unchaotic Senate,” said state Supreme Court Judge George Ceresia, who is expected to rule from the bench this morning on the injunction request.
Austin Shafran, spokesman for ousted Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, said outside the courtroom that Republicans are trying to circumvent the will of the public, which voted for a Democratic majority last November.
“There are rules that govern the Senate and they are not playing by the rules,” Shafran said.
But Republican spokesman Scott Reif said it is the Democrats who are breaking the rules by trying to block the new majority from meeting.
“We intend to hold a session today,’’ he said.









