New York, NY (May 25, 2021) – Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo nominated Justice Anthony Cannataro, of New York Law School’s Class of 1996, to serve on the New York Court of Appeals—the state’s highest court. If confirmed by the New York State Senate, Judge Cannataro would be the second openly LGBTQ+ judge in the Court’s over 170-year history.
Editor’s Note: On June 8, 2021, Judge Cannataro was confirmed to the Court. The statement below has been updated to reflect this.
Statement by Anthony W. Crowell, Dean and President of New York Law School
“Judge Anthony Cannataro is a brilliant legal mind, a dedicated public servant on behalf of all New Yorkers, and a New York Law School graduate and Alumni Association Director who represents the very best of our community. The loss of Judge Paul Feinman—a brilliant jurist and the first openly gay judge on the court—made a significant impact. I am proud that such an exceptional graduate of ‘New York’s law school’ will now serve on New York’s highest court. LGBTQ+ individuals remain underrepresented in the legal profession and the judiciary. Our system is most fair when it is reflective of all of us.
“In addition, having previously served at the New York City Law Department alongside Judge Cannataro, and having called him a dear friend for almost 25 years, I could not be more confident in his legal acumen, his humanity and care for his fellow New Yorkers, and his care for the values of our profession: a commitment to inclusion, equality, and justice.”