Politics on the Hudson

Speaking to reporters in Manhattan this afternoon, Gov. David Paterson said he will appeal today’s court ruling on his lieutenant governor appointment to the state Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.

He said he’s “obviously disappointed,” but that the Court of Appeals is “where we all believed this case would be resolved anyway.”

He went on to say that he believes he has the legal right to make the appointment under the state’s Public Officers Law. The court disagreed, saying the state constitution spells out that if the position is vacant, thepresident of the Senate would fill the duties of the job.

Paterson said he would even consider taking Ravitch’s appointment to be confirmed by the Senate or the full state Legislature if need be.

“As you know, within 24 hours of my appointment of lieutenant governor the Senate leadership situation was resolved at that time,” he said.

“But I still have 17 months left in my term as governor and should there ever be another chaotic fight in the Senate, as we witnessed, we would not know in this state who would succeed the governor if the governor became incapacitated or could not serve.”