Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department
Encyclopedia
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department is headquartered in Manhattan
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and the Bronx. Appeals are taken to the Appellate Division, as a matter of right, in civil and criminal cases, from the Supreme Court, Surrogate’s Court, Family Court, and Court of Claims.
Along with the state's other three Appellate Departments, it shares responsibility for all admissions to the New York bar. Under the state's bar admission rules, all bar applicants must be interviewed in person by one of the Appellate Departments. The First Department admits only residents of Manhattan and the Bronx, with all other applicants being admitted by other Departments. However, once admitted by one Department, a new attorney may practice in any New York state court.
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
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Jurisdiction
The Appellate Division holds jurisdiction over the Counties of New YorkManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and the Bronx. Appeals are taken to the Appellate Division, as a matter of right, in civil and criminal cases, from the Supreme Court, Surrogate’s Court, Family Court, and Court of Claims.
Along with the state's other three Appellate Departments, it shares responsibility for all admissions to the New York bar. Under the state's bar admission rules, all bar applicants must be interviewed in person by one of the Appellate Departments. The First Department admits only residents of Manhattan and the Bronx, with all other applicants being admitted by other Departments. However, once admitted by one Department, a new attorney may practice in any New York state court.
Case Load
Over 3,000 appeals, 6,000 motions, and 1,000 interim applications are determined each year.Current Justices
| Name | Tenure as Justice | Tenure as Presiding Justice | Appointing Governor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luis A. Gonzalez Luis A. Gonzalez (judge) Luis A. Gonzalez is the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department. -Early life and education:He was born in Manti, Puerto Rico and raised in Hell's Kitchen in a family of seven.... |
2002- | 2009- | George Pataki George Pataki George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :... |
| Peter Tom Peter Tom (judge) Peter Tom is an Associate Justice on the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department. -Legal career:In 1976, he worked as a Law Clerk for the New York City Civil Court, working on both criminal and civil assignments. He was appointed as a judge on the Housing Court from 1985... |
1994- | 2007, 2009 (Acting) | Mario Cuomo Mario Cuomo Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:... |
| Angela Mazzarelli Angela Mazzarelli Angela Mazzarelli is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department.-Early life and education:She attended the primary and secondary schools of the Southboro, Massachusetts Public School System... |
1994- | Mario Cuomo Mario Cuomo Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:... |
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| Richard Andrias Richard Andrias Richard Andrias is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department. -Early life and education:He is a 1965 graduate of Bowdoin College and a 1970 graduate of Columbia Law School... |
1996- | George Pataki George Pataki George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :... |
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| David Saxe David Saxe (judge) David Saxe is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department.-Early life and education:... |
1998- | George Pataki George Pataki George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :... |
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| David Friedman David Friedman (judge) David Friedman is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department.-Early life and education:... |
1999- | George Pataki George Pataki George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :... |
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| John Sweeny John Sweeny (judge) John W. Sweeny, Jr. is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department.-Early life and education:... |
2004- | George Pataki George Pataki George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :... |
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| James M. Catterson James M. Catterson James M. Catterson is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department.-Early life and education:He is a 1980 graduate of Colgate University and a 1985 graduate of St... |
2004- | George Pataki George Pataki George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :... |
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| Karla Moskowitz Karla Moskowitz Karla Moskowitz is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department. -Early life and education:She is a 1963 graduate of Alfred University and a 1966 graduate of Columbia Law School.-Legal career:... |
2008- | Eliot Spitzer Eliot Spitzer Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011... |
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| Rolando Acosta Rolando Acosta Rolando Acosta is an associate justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department.-Early life and education:... |
2008- | Eliot Spitzer Eliot Spitzer Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011... |
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| Dianne Renwick Dianne Renwick Dianne Renwick is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department.-Early life and education:She is a 1982 graduate of Cornell University and a 1986 graduate of Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.... |
2008- | David Paterson David Paterson David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting... |
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| Leland DeGrasse Leland DeGrasse Leland George DeGrasse is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department.-Early life and education:... |
2008- | David Paterson David Paterson David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting... |
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| Helen Freedman Helen Freedman Helen Freedman is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department. -Early life and education:She is a 1963 graduate of Smith College and a 1967 graduate of New York University School of Law.... |
2008- | David Paterson David Paterson David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting... |
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| Rosalyn Richter Rosalyn Richter Rosalyn Richter is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department. -Early life and education:She is a 1976 graduate of Barnard College and a 1979 graduate of Brooklyn Law School.-Legal career:... |
2009- | David Paterson David Paterson David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting... |
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| Sheila Abdus-Salaam Sheila Abdus-Salaam Sheila Abdus-Salaam is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department. -Early life and education:She is a 1974 graduate of Barnard College and a 1977 graduate of Columbia Law School.-Legal career:... |
2009- | David Paterson David Paterson David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting... |
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| Sallie Manzanet-Daniels Sallie Manzanet-Daniels Sallie Manzanet-Daniels is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department. -Early life and education:... |
2009- | David Paterson David Paterson David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting... |
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| Nelson S. Roman Nelson S. Roman Nelson S. Román is an Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department. -Early life and education:... |
2009- | David Paterson David Paterson David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting... |
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Former Members
- Bernard BoteinBernard BoteinBernard Botein was a prominent New York City lawyer and judge, a legal reformer, a presiding justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, and a president of the New York City Bar Association.-Early life:Bernard Botein was born to a German Jewish family on New...
(1953-1968) - Charles D. BreitelCharles D. BreitelCharles David Breitel was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1974 to 1978.-Life:...
(1952-1966) - Betty Weinberg Ellerin (1985-2005)
- Bentley KassalBentley KassalBentley Kassal an attorney, is a litigation counsel with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York City. He is a retired New York State Assemblyman, a retired judge of the New York State Courts, at every level, and a World War II veteran...
(1982-1993) - Theodore Kupferman (1971-1996)
- Francis T. Murphy (1971-1997)
- Emilio NunezEmilio NúñezEmilio Núñez was a Cuban-American soldier, dentist, and politician ....
(1969-1977) - Joseph M. Proskauer (1927-1930)
- Ernst Rosenberger (1985-2003)
- George Bundy SmithGeorge Bundy SmithGeorge Bundy Smith is a retired judge in New York State. While he was a law student at Yale University, he was part of the Freedom Ride fromAtlanta, Georgia, to Montgomery, Alabama .-Early life:...
(1987-1992) - Harold Stevens (1958-1977)
- Robert F. Wagner, Sr. (1927)
Notable Cases
- Pando v. FernandezPando v. FernandezPando v. Fernandez, 127 Misc.2d 224 , is a New York case that arose when Christopher Pando, a deeply religious minor, sought to impose a constructive trust on the proceeds of a winning $2.8 million ticket that he purchased with Dasyi Fernandez’s money. Pando alleged that Mrs...
- People v. JovanovicPeople v. JovanovicPeople v. Jovanovic, 263 A.D.2d 182, 700 N.Y.S.2d 156 , was a highly publicized criminal case in New York. In 1996, Oliver Jovanovic was accused of sadomasochistic torture of a woman whom he had met shortly before on the Internet...
- Stambovsky v. AckleyStambovsky v. AckleyStambovsky v. Ackley, 169 A.D.2d 254 , is a case in the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, that held that a house, which the owner had previously advertised to the public as haunted by ghosts, was legally haunted for the purpose of an action for rescission brought by a subsequent purchaser...