The New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination today announced that the Commission is seeking recommendations and applications for persons who may be qualified to serve as an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. On February 10, 2027, a vacancy will exist on the Court of Appeals due to the expiration of Senior Associate Judge Jenny Rivera’s term. Candidates for this vacancy may download application forms from the Commission’s website (www.nysegov.com/cjn) or contact the Commission’s Counsel, Henry M. Greenberg, c/o Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 54 State Street, 6th Floor, Albany, New York 12208 (Tel.: 518.689.1492; e-mail: [email protected]; Fax: 518.689.1499). Applications may be filed electronically by e-mailing them to [email protected] or submitted by mail to the Commission’s Counsel. The deadline to submit applications is August 10, 2026.
Also, the Commission announced that it elected Elizabeth R. Fine to serve as the Commission’s new chairperson. The chairperson presides over Commission meetings and acts as the Commission’s sole spokesperson. Ms. Fine was appointed to the Commission on June 30, 2025 by Governor Kathy Hochul to serve a term that expires March 31, 2029.
Ms. Fine is an attorney and advisor with more than three decades of senior legal and government experience. From 2021 to 2024, she served as Counsel to Governor Kathy Hochul. In that capacity, Ms. Fine was the chief legal officer of the executive branch of New York State, advising on legal, policy, communications, judicial appointments, and strategy matters; serving as a lead negotiator on three state budgets; and overseeing the executive branch’s response to federal and state investigations. She began her career as counsel to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and served at the U.S. Department of Justice and the Clinton White House, where she was Special Counsel to the President. She went on to serve as General Counsel of the New York City Council and Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Empire State Development, the State’s principal economic development authority. She currently serves as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as well as on other public and private sector boards. She is principal of Liz Fine Advisory LLC, which provides strategic guidance to businesses and other clients, and is a partner at Fine & Prober LLP, a law firm. She is a graduate of Brown University (B.A.), New York University School of Law (J.D.), and Georgetown University Law Center (L.L.M).
Ms. Fine is the seventh Chair in the Commission’s history, succeeding Hon. E. Leo Milonas (2019-2024). The others to serve as Chair of the Commission are Hon. Judith S. Kaye (2009-2016); Hon. John F. O’Mara (1998-2009); Hon. Hugh R. Jones (1992-1998); Mendes Hershman (1982-1992); and Herbert Wechsler (1977-1982). Alan Mansfield served as the Commission’s interim chair from 2016 to 2019.
“It is an extraordinary privilege and honor to serve as Chair of this distinguished and important Commission,” Ms. Fine said. “The Court of Appeals is the flagship institution for justice in our state, and it must continue to be one of the nation’s leading judicial bodies. I am honored to have the chance to work with my fellow commissioners to nominate candidates for the Court who reflect the excellence, diversity, integrity, and public spirit that the Court needs. I am honored to be chosen to serve as chair.”
Under New York’s State Constitution, the Commission on Judicial Nomination is charged with evaluating, and then recommending to the Governor, candidates to fill vacancies on the State’s highest court, the Court of Appeals of the State of New York. The Commission vigorously seeks out, carefully evaluates, and then nominates well qualified candidates from the extraordinary, diverse community of lawyers who have been admitted to practice in New York State for at least 10 years. The Governor’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the New York Senate. Of the twelve members of the Commission, four are chosen by the Governor, four by the Chief Judge, and one each by the Speaker of the Assembly, Temporary President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate and Minority Leader of the Assembly.
To fill past judicial vacancies on the Court, the Commission has nominated to the Governor a wide variety of lawyers, including private practitioners, public interest attorneys, law professors, government officials and sitting Federal and State judges. While prospective candidates must file an application with the Commission, recommendations may be made by anyone who believes that a prospective candidate could be an excellent Judge of the Court. Recommendations of qualified candidates for a vacancy are encouraged and may be made to the Commission’s Counsel.
If any person or organization wishes to receive copies of future Commission press releases, please provide an e-mail or mailing address to the Commission’s Counsel. The Commission will register the address and make every effort to distribute future press releases in the designated manner. Anyone interested in learning more about the Commission are encouraged to visit its website: www.nysegov.com/cjn.
