Brooklyn Heights

Brooklyn to get three new Appellate Justices

January 21, 2014 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced appointments to fill vacancies in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for the Second Judicial Departments. The Second Department, whose courthouse sits in Brooklyn Heights, covers a 10-county area, including the city’s other boroughs except for Manhattan; Long Island and the southern Hudson Valley.

Hons. Colleen Duffy, Hector D. LaSalle and Joseph J. Maltese will fill three of the five vacancies on the court. “It is an honor to appoint Justices … Duffy, LaSalle and Maltese to the Appellate Division,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement. “These men and women bring to the courts wide-ranging and distinguished careers exhibiting years of legal experience and sound judgment. I have no doubt these individuals will demonstrate exceptional intellect and integrity in their new roles.”

Duffy, elected to the Supreme Court, Westchester County, in 2011, began her judicial career in 1998, when Mayor Earnest D. David appointed her to Mount Vernon City Court. A former litigation associate with the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Duffy became an acting Supreme Court justice for Westchester County. In 2010, Governor David Paterson appointed her to the Westchester’s Supreme Court.

LaSalle, a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Law, has served as justice of the Appellate Term for the 9th and 10th Judicial districts since 2012. Prior to his election to Suffolk County’s Supreme Court in 2008, LaSalle worked in the Suffolk County DA’s Office, becoming a lead gang prosecutor and deputy bureau chief of the Special Investigation Bureau.

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A New York Law School alumnus, Maltese began his legal career in 1974 with the Appellate Division, Second Department, as mental hygiene legal service counsel, and then as law clerk for the Hon. John Kelly. Prior to being elected to the bench in 1991, Maltese was in private practice, concentrating in civil and criminal litigation. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve after more than 30 years of active and reserve service, including serving as a member of the JAG Corps, as well as a military judge for the U.S. Army Trial Judiciary.

Under the New York State Constitution and Judiciary Law, the Governor has the authority to appoint justices to each Appellate Division from among those who have been elected as justices of the Supreme Court. These appointments are not subject to Senate confirmation.


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