For Immediate Release
April 12, 2023
Contact: Jake Oliver, jake@anatgerstein.com, 347 361 9983
New York, N.Y. (April 12, 2023) — Citizens Union has issued to following statement from executive director Betsy Gotbaum in response to news that the Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins is considering a constitutional amendment to eliminate the Commission on Judicial Nomination:
“Eliminating the Commission on Judicial Nomination, which recommends candidates for the Court of Appeals to the Governor, would further politicize the judiciary and erode the public’s faith in our court system. The Commission is appointed by all three branches of government, and serves as an effective mechanism to ensure that the Governor’s nominees are made on merit. The Commission also is essential to keeping our judicial branch independent and inoculated from political horse trading between the legislative and executive branches. The public must have confidence that our judicial system is run by, and composed of, judges who can exercise independence and focus on the fair and impartial administration of justice.”
For follow-up, please contact Jake Oliver at Anat Gerstein, Inc. at
jake@anatgerstein.com or 347-361-9983
About Citizens Union
For 125 years, Citizens Union has been a force for transparency, accountability and ethics in New York’s City and State governments. A nonpartisan organization, some of our current initiatives include a new agenda for police accountability, monitoring the City Council’s redistricting process and increasing civic engagement. Learn more at www.citizensunion.org.
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