New York State Bar Association President Praises Gov. Hochul’s Selection of Judge Rowan Wilson as Chief Judge and Caitlin Halligan as Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals
4.10.2023
Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s selection of Judge Rowan Wilson as chief judge and her announcement that she intends to nominate Caitlin Halligan as associate judge of the Court of Appeals to replace Wilson:
“Judge Rowan D. Wilson is brilliant, conscientious, and thoughtful and would be one of the intellectual leaders of the Court of Appeals and the New York legal system. As a senior judge on the state’s highest court, he has a wealth of experience and the ability to lead the court system with compassion and dignity. He is an accomplished public speaker and would be an excellent representative of the New York courts both within the state and nationally. We commend the governor on this excellent choice.”
“Caitlin Halligan is a brilliant attorney with a tremendous breadth and depth of high-level litigation experience, including at the Court of Appeals, and significant administrative experience. Her commitment to justice is evidenced by her extensive public and pro bono service. She would be one of the intellectual leaders of the Court of Appeals with her astute ideas for improving court administration and access to justice.”
The New York State Bar Association rated Wilson and Halligan as “well qualified,” its highest rating.
The association’s Committee to Review Judicial Nominations interviewed the seven candidates named by the Commission on Judicial Nomination. The committee considered professional ability, experience, character, temperament, and other qualities in arriving at a determination for each candidate. Each candidate’s qualifications and background were thoroughly examined.
According to the association’s guidelines, qualified applies to candidates who have demonstrated the necessary qualifications for the office while well qualified is for those who possess pre-eminent qualifications.
