An appeals court has struck down New York Governor David Paterson’s appointment of a lieutenant governor as unlawful. The court upheld a challenge brought by the state Senate’s minority leader.
An appellate panel said Thursday that no state law or constitutional provision lets the lieutenant governor’s post be filled by anything but an election.
The Democratic governor tapped longtime government adviser Richard Ravitch for the post on July 8 to break up a Senate leadership logjam. Paterson said state law allowed the appointment until the next election, but Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos called it unconstitutional.
The governor says he’s disappointed by the ruling but notes it gives him permission to appeal to the state’s highest court. Skelos says the ruling shows the governor "acted recklessly."