Appeals Court Rules Against Ravitch As LG
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- August
- 20
A state appeals court ruled this afternoon that Gov. David Paterson can’t lawfully appoint a lieutenant governor to fill the vacant position.
The unanimous decision by the appeals court in Brooklyn is a blow to Paterson’s decision July 8 t
o appoint former New York City transit head Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor. Ravitch was to fill a position vacated when Paterson left the post to succeed disgraced Gov. Eliot Spitzer in March 2008.
Paterson argued that the unprecedented move was legal under state Public Officers Law. But Senate Republicans contested that it was illegal and took the case to court.
The appeals court agreed with Republicans. Paterson is expected to appeal to the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals.
“We have no quarrel with those who say that having a man of Mr. Ravitch’s stature, knowledge, and experience in the office of lieutenant governor would promote the public interest by providing help and counsel to the governor in difficult times and by bringing much-needed stability to the government of this State,” the ruling states.
“We conclude, however, that the governor simply does not have the authority to appoint a lieutenant governor.”
Paterson sought to bring on Ravitch amid the Senate’s 31-day leadership stalemate that started June 8 because it left the state without a clear line of succession if Paterson was unable to serve.
A day after Paterson’s announcement to appoint Ravitch, the Senate gridlock ended.
There was no immediate comment from the parties.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, August 20th, 2009 at 3:55 pm by Joseph Spector.
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