Stein Confirmed for Court of Appeals
The New York State Court of Appeals is at full strength after the state Senate confirmed Leslie Stein to the state’s highest court. The 58-year-old Albany Democrat is the second Jew on the current seven-member panel of jurists. The other Jewish member of the court, Jonathan Lippman, is the chief judge and slated for mandatory retirement in May. State law mandates judges on the high court must retire at age 70.
“I will always approach each case with an open mind and I will decide every case fairly to the best of my ability adhering to legal precedent,” Stein told The Jewish Press after her unanimous confirmation. “I am overwhelmed but very honored.”
Health Care Analyst Abramowitz Addresses Conservatives
New York State Conservative Party members held their annual gathering earlier this month to unveil their legislative agenda. Jews involved in the Conservative Party are few and far between but party leaders found at least one to speak at the get-together.
Ken Abramowitz, a health care industry analyst and investor in the health care industry, was particularly scathing in his characterization of New York legislators.
“In the forced-unionism states, like New York, the manufacturing GDP growth over the past decade is 13.8 percent,” he noted. “You’ll be proud to know that New York is number 44 of all states in terms of economic growth. Excuse me, I think we have the smartest people in the country in this state and it is inexcusable that we have the dumbest government in the country.”