court of appeals developments the pataki court vincent martin bonventre, j.d., ph.d. legislative...

COURT OF APPEALS COURT OF APPEALS DEVELOPMENTSDEVELOPMENTSThe Pataki CourtThe Pataki Court

Vincent Martin Bonventre, J.D., Ph.D.Vincent Martin Bonventre, J.D., Ph.D.Legislative CLE, December 14, 2006Legislative CLE, December 14, 2006

The Current CourtThe Current Court (updated (updated Sept. 2006)Sept. 2006)

Court of Appeals, 2006 Criminal Law Voting (Recent 5 Years)

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Judge (Pro-Defendant Voting Percent: divided criminal decisions)

Source: Vincent M. Bonventre, Albany Law School 12/06

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Fall '01 - Spring '06 [5yrs] 76 51 50 37 35 14 13 10

GB Smith ( - '06)

Ciparick KayeRosenblatt

('99 - )RS Smith ('04 - )

Read ('03 - )

Graffeo ('01 - )

Wesley ('97 - '03)

Court of Appeals: Criminal Law Voting Current Trends (Recent 5 Years)

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Fall '01 - Spring '03 [2yrs] 67 48 43 24 0 10 10 19

Fall '03 - Spring '06 [3yrs] 81 53 53 43 35 15 15 38

GB Smith ( - '06)


('99 - )RS Smith ('04 - )

Read ('03 - )

Graffeo ('01 - )

Wesley ('97 - '03)

COURT

Court of Appeals: Criminal Law VotingRecent Trends (From 2000)

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2000 & 2001 57 29 36 36 0 7 21

Fall '01 - Spring '03 [2yrs] 67 48 43 24 0 10 10 19

Fall '03 - Spring '06 [3yrs] 81 53 53 43 35 15 15 38

GB Smith ( - '06)


('99 - )RS Smith ('04 - )

Read ('03 - )

Graffeo ('01 - )

Wesley ('97 - '03)

COURT

Judith S. KayeJudith S. Kaye Appointed 1983, Appointed 1983,

CuomoCuomo(replaced JF [elect]) (replaced JF [elect])

First woman on First woman on CourtCourt

From NYC (born in From NYC (born in Monticello)Monticello)

Appointed Chief Appointed Chief Judge 1993, Cuomo Judge 1993, Cuomo (replaced SW (replaced SW [Cuomo])[Cuomo])

Current term expires Current term expires March 2007March 2007

Mandatory age Mandatory age retirement 2008retirement 2008

George Bundy Smith George Bundy Smith (retired 2006) (retired 2006)

Appointed 1992, Appointed 1992, CuomoCuomo

(replaced FA [Cuomo])(replaced FA [Cuomo]) From NYC (born New From NYC (born New

Orleans)Orleans) Term expired Sept. Term expired Sept.

20062006 Denied reappointment Denied reappointment

by Patakiby Pataki (mandatory age (mandatory age

retirement would have retirement would have been 2007)been 2007)

Carmen Beauchamp Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick Ciparick

Appointed 1994, Appointed 1994, CuomoCuomo

(replaced SFH (replaced SFH [Cuomo])[Cuomo])

First Hispanic on First Hispanic on CourtCourt

From NYCFrom NYC Current term expires Current term expires

Jan. 2008Jan. 2008 Mandatory age Mandatory age

retirement 2012retirement 2012

Richard C. Wesley Richard C. Wesley (resigned 2003)(resigned 2003)

Appointed 1997, PatakiAppointed 1997, Pataki

(replaced RDS (replaced RDS [Cuomo])[Cuomo])

From LivoniaFrom Livonia

[Rochester area][Rochester area]

(born Canandaigua, (born Canandaigua, New York)New York)

Resigned for 2d Circuit Resigned for 2d Circuit Appointment, 2003Appointment, 2003

Albert M. Rosenblatt Albert M. Rosenblatt

Appointed 1998, Appointed 1998, PatakiPataki

(replaced VJT (replaced VJT [Cuomo])[Cuomo])

From Dutchess From Dutchess County (born NYC)County (born NYC)


Victoria A. Graffeo Victoria A. Graffeo


(replaced JWB (replaced JWB [Cuomo])[Cuomo])

From Guilderland From Guilderland (born Rockville (born Rockville Center)Center)

Term expires Nov. Term expires Nov. 20142014


Susan P. ReadSusan P. Read


(replaced HL (replaced HL [Cuomo])[Cuomo])

From Capital Region From Capital Region (born Gallipolis, (born Gallipolis, Ohio)Ohio)


Term expires Jan. Term expires Jan. 20172017

Robert S. Smith Robert S. Smith


(replaced RW (replaced RW [Pataki])[Pataki])

From NYCFrom NYC Mandatory age Mandatory age

retirement 2014retirement 2014

Hon. Eugene F. Pigott, Hon. Eugene F. Pigott, Jr. Jr.


(replaced GBS (replaced GBS [Cuomo])[Cuomo])

From Grand Island From Grand Island [Buffalo Metro Area][Buffalo Metro Area]

(born Rochester, (born Rochester, NY)NY)


Court of Appeals: Criminal Law Voting Current "Pataki" Court (Recent 5 Years)

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Fall '01 - Spring '03 [2yrs] 67 48 43 24 19 10 10 0

Fall '03 - Spring '06 [3yrs] 81 53 53 43 38 35 15 15

GB Smith ( - '06)


('99 - )COURT

RS Smith ('04 - )

Wesley ('97 - '03)

Graffeo ('01 - )

Read ('03 - )

The ProcessThe Process Background: Wachtler, Fuchsberg, Background: Wachtler, Fuchsberg,

Breitel, CareyBreitel, Carey Commission: composition, purpose Commission: composition, purpose

[evaluate, report, recommend][evaluate, report, recommend]

Applications: notice, solicitation, Applications: notice, solicitation, applicantsapplicants

Interviews: prelim evaluation, in-Interviews: prelim evaluation, in-person meeting person meeting

Vincent M. Bonventre, 12/06Vincent M. Bonventre, 12/06

The Process The Process cont’dcont’d

Voting: ranking/no-ranking, 2/3 Voting: ranking/no-ranking, 2/3 support, re-voting & winnowing support, re-voting & winnowing

Findings & Recommendations: Findings & Recommendations: 3-7 candidates3-7 candidates““report” on “character, report” on “character, temperament, professional aptitude, temperament, professional aptitude, experience, qualifications and experience, qualifications and fitness”fitness”——otherwise entirely confidentialotherwise entirely confidential

Vincent M. Bonventre, 12/06Vincent M. Bonventre, 12/06


Gubernatorial Nomination: limited Gubernatorial Nomination: limited to list, agenda?to list, agenda?

Senatorial Advice & Consent: Senatorial Advice & Consent: committee hearing, full senate, committee hearing, full senate, “advice” or just consent?“advice” or just consent?

Vincent M. Bonventre, Vincent M. Bonventre, 12/0612/06


Election vs “Nonpolitical Merit” Election vs “Nonpolitical Merit” Appointment: Appointment: Pros / ConsPros / Cons Final Product, ComparisonsFinal Product, Comparisons EssentialsEssentials

Vincent M. Vincent M.

Bonventre, 12/06Bonventre, 12/06

Court of AppealsCourt of AppealsMaking of the Pataki Making of the Pataki

CourtCourt

Voting and Decisional Patterns in Voting and Decisional Patterns in Criminal Cases:Criminal Cases:

From Cuomo thru PatakiFrom Cuomo thru Pataki

Vincent Martin Bonventre, J.D., Ph.D.Vincent Martin Bonventre, J.D., Ph.D.December 2006December 2006

Court of Appeals: Criminal Law VotingCuomo & Pataki Courts (Composite of Studies)

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1990 & 1991 91 48 17 4 26

post W / early K (11/92-5/94) 81 52 63 63 24 13 48

1994 & 1995 81 45 65 60 15 25 45

'96/'97 thru '97/'98 80 47 53 27 31 33 27 0

'97/'98 thru '98/'99 100 69 46 31 50 8 31 15

1996 thru 1998 83 57 68 39 48 21 43 8

1999 thru 2001 61 29 39 41 28 35 17

2000 & 2001 57 29 36 36 21 36 7 0

2001 56 22 22 33 11 33 0 0

'01/'02 thru '02/'03 (2yrs) 67 48 43 18 19 24 10 10 0

'03/'04 thru '04/'05 (2yrs) 70 63 63 41 52 35 11 11

'01/'02 thru '04/'05 (total 4yrs) 69 56 54 18 31 40 35 10 10 10

Fall '05 - Spring '06 95 40 40 35 30 35 20 20

Fall '04 - Spring '06 [2yrs] 85 48 52 39 42 36 18 18

Fall '03 - Spring '06 [3yrs] 81 53 53 38 43 35 15 15

Fall '01-Spring '06[5yrs] 76 51 50 32 37 35 13 14

Titone (- '98)

GB Smith (- '06)

Ciparick KayeLevine

('93 - '02)Wachtler

( -'92)Bellacosa

( - '00)COURT

Rosenblatt ('99 - )

RS Smith ('04 - )

Wesley ('97 - '03)

Graffeo ('01 - )

Read ('03 - )

Late Wachtler – Early Late Wachtler – Early KayeKaye

All Cuomo CourtAll Cuomo Court

Late Wachtler eraLate Wachtler eraPro-prosecution recordPro-prosecution recordWachtler/Bellacosa v. Wachtler/Bellacosa v.

Kaye/TitoneKaye/Titone Post-Wachtler – Early KayePost-Wachtler – Early Kaye

Pro-defendant swingPro-defendant swingWachtler Court – Kaye Court Wachtler Court – Kaye Court

transitiontransition

Court of Appeals: Criminal Law VotingLate Wachtler - Early Kaye (All Cuomo Court)

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1990 & 1991 91 48 26 17 4

post W / early K (11/92-5/94) 81 52 63 63 48 24 13

Titone (- '98)

GB Smith Ciparick Kaye COURTLevine

('93 - '02)Wachtler

( -'92)Bellacosa

( - '00)

Emerging Kaye CourtEmerging Kaye CourtAll Cuomo CourtAll Cuomo Court

RepriseReprise

Late WachtlerLate Wachtler

Early KayeEarly Kaye Emerging Kaye CourtEmerging Kaye Court

Pro-defendant swing persistsPro-defendant swing persists

Kaye/Titone/G.B. Kaye/Titone/G.B. Smith/Ciparick Smith/Ciparick “liberal” majority“liberal” majority

Court of Appeals: Criminal Law VotingEmerging Kaye Court (All Cuomo Court)

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1990 & 1991 91 48 26 17 4

post W / early K (11/92-5/94) 81 52 63 63 48 24 13

1994 & 1995 81 45 65 60 45 15 25

Titone (- '98)


('93 - '02)Wachtler

( -'92)Bellacosa

( - '00)

Cuomo to Pataki Cuomo to Pataki TransitionTransition

RepriseReprise

Post-Wachtler / Early KayePost-Wachtler / Early Kaye

Emerging Kaye CourtEmerging Kaye Court Post Court-BashingPost Court-Bashing

Pro-prosecution Pro-prosecution “adjustment”“adjustment”

Kaye/Ciparick voting shiftKaye/Ciparick voting shift

Court of Appeals: Criminal Law VotingCuomo - Pataki Transition

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post W / early K (11/92-5/94) 81 52 63 63 48 24 13

1994 & 1995 81 45 65 60 45 15 25

Fall '96 thru Spring '98 80 47 53 27 27 31 33 0

Titone (- '98)


('93 - '02)Bellacosa

( - '00)Wesley

('97 - '03)

Trending-Pataki CourtTrending-Pataki Court RepriseReprise

Emerging Kaye CourtEmerging Kaye CourtPost Court-bashingPost Court-bashing

Pataki’s Increasing ImpactPataki’s Increasing ImpactKaye/Ciparick shift persistsKaye/Ciparick shift persistsPataki’s appointees:Pataki’s appointees:

Simons to WesleySimons to WesleyTitone to RosenblattTitone to RosenblattBellacosa to GraffeoBellacosa to Graffeo

Court’s pro-prosecution recordCourt’s pro-prosecution record [But] Rosenblatt: the “non” Pataki [But] Rosenblatt: the “non” Pataki

appointee ?appointee ?

Court of Appeals: Criminal Law VotingTrending-Pataki Court

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Judge (Pro-Defendant Voting Percent:

divided criminal decisionsSource: Vincent M. Bonventre, Albany Law School 12/06

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1994 & 1995 81 45 65 60 45 15 25

Fall '96 - Spring '98 80 47 53 27 27 31 33 0

Fall '97 - Spring '99 100 69 46 31 31 50 8 15

2000 & 2001 57 29 36 21 36 36 7 0

Titone ( - 98)


('93 - '02)

Rosen- blatt

('99 - )

Bellacosa ( - '00)

Wesley ('97 - '03)

Graffeo ('01 - )

6. Kaye: Public Law Voting (Combined, Civil, Criminal), 1987 - 2001

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Judge (Pro-Individual Rights Voting Percent)

Source: Vincent M. Bonventre, Albany Law SchoolSTREAMS OF TENDENCY ON THE NEW YORK COURT (2003)

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Civil & Criminal Civil Criminal

Civil & Criminal 50 54 51 35

Civil 45 49 44 38

Criminal 53 57 56 32

15 YEAR TOTALS 1987-1991 1992-1996 1997-2001

7. Kaye: Criminal Law Voting Comparisons, 1987 - 2001

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t 1987-2001 Totals 1987-1991 1992-1996 1997-2001

1987-2001 Totals 77 53 51 51 38 29 20

1987-1991 80 57 37 21

1992-1996 74 56 47 56 42 25 19

1997-2001 89 32 61 40 26 40 21

Titone ('87 - Aug. '98) KAYE Smith Ciparick COURT LevineBellacosa ('87 -

Aug. '00)

8. Ciparick: Public Law Voting (Combined, Civil, Criminal), 1994 - 2001

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Civil & Criminal

Civil

Criminal

Civil & Criminal 54 63 29

Civil 57 70 24

Criminal 51 58 31

8 YEAR TOTALS 1994-1997 1998-2001

Pataki’s Court ?Pataki’s Court ? RepriseReprise

Pataki’s Increasing Impact: “Bashing” + Pataki’s Increasing Impact: “Bashing” + AppointmentsAppointments

Pataki’s Majority?Pataki’s Majority?

Titone to Rosenblatt, Bellacosa to GraffeoTitone to Rosenblatt, Bellacosa to Graffeo

Levine to Read, [Simons to] Wesley to R.S. Levine to Read, [Simons to] Wesley to R.S. SmithSmith

Court Court ReRe-Adjustment-Adjustment

Kaye/Ciparick Kaye/Ciparick ReRe-shift-shift

Pataki’s Judges: Wesley, Graffeo, Read, Pataki’s Judges: Wesley, Graffeo, Read,

and (?) R.S. Smithand (?) R.S. Smith

““Non” Pataki Judge: RosenblattNon” Pataki Judge: Rosenblatt

Court’s Pro-defendant Swing Back (?)Court’s Pro-defendant Swing Back (?)

Court of Appeals: Criminal Law VotingPataki's Court ?

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Fall '97 - Spring '99 69 46 31 31 50 15

2000 & 2001 57 29 36 21 36 36 7 0

Fall '01 thru Spring '03 67 48 43 19 18 24 10 10 0

Fall '03 thru Spring'06 [3yrs] 81 53 53 38 43 15 15 35


('93 - '02)

Rosen- blatt

('99 - )

Wesley ('97 - '03)

Graffeo ('01 - )

Read ('03 - )

RS Smith ('04 - )

Court of Appeals: Criminal Law VotingCuomo Court vs Pataki Court

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CUOMO: '90 & '91 91 48 17 4 26

CUOMO: early K (11/92-5/94) 81 52 63 63 24 13 48

PATAKI: F '01 - S '03 [2yrs] 67 48 43 18 19 24 10 10 0

PATAKI: F '03 - S '06 [3yrs] 81 53 53 38 43 35 15 15

Titone ( - '98)

GB Smith ( - '06)

Ciparick KayeLevine

('93 - '02)Wachtler

( -'92)Bellacosa

( - '00)COURT

Rosenb't ('99 - )

RS Smith ('04 - )

Wesley ('97 - '03)

Graffeo ('01 - )

Read ('03 - )

The 2006The 2006 Court Court

Re-Re-Emerging Pro-defendant WingEmerging Pro-defendant WingG.B. Smith, Kaye & CiparickG.B. Smith, Kaye & Ciparick

Solid Pro-prosecution VotesSolid Pro-prosecution VotesGraffeo & ReadGraffeo & Read

The Less Predictable R.S. SmithThe Less Predictable R.S. Smith Rosenblatt in the CenterRosenblatt in the Center An Unmistakable SpectrumAn Unmistakable Spectrum

G.B. Smith/Kaye/CiparickG.B. Smith/Kaye/CiparickGraffeo/ReadGraffeo/ReadRosenblatt/R.S. SmithRosenblatt/R.S. Smith?? G.B. Smith Replaced by Pigott???? G.B. Smith Replaced by Pigott??

Court of Appeals: Criminal Law Voting 2006 Court (Recent 5 Years)

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Fall '01 - Spring '03 [2yrs] 67 48 43 24 19 10 0

Fall '03 - Spring '06 [3yrs] 81 53 53 43 38 35 15 15

GB Smith ( - '06)


('99 - )COURT

RS Smith ('04 - )

Graffeo ('01 - )

Read ('03 - )

The Current CourtThe Current Court (updated (updated Sept. 2006)Sept. 2006)

Future CourtFuture CourtSpitzer’s Opportunities ?Spitzer’s Opportunities ?

RosenblattRosenblatt Replacement, Jan. 2007 Replacement, Jan. 2007 KayeKaye Reappointment/Replacement, March Reappointment/Replacement, March

20072007 Mandatory Retirement, 2008Mandatory Retirement, 2008

CiparickCiparick Reappoint./Replacement, Jan. 2008 Reappoint./Replacement, Jan. 2008 Mandatory Retirement, 2012Mandatory Retirement, 2012

GraffeoGraffeo Reappoint./Replacement, Nov. 2014 Reappoint./Replacement, Nov. 2014 Mandatory Retirement, 2022Mandatory Retirement, 2022

R.S. SmithR.S. Smith Mandatory Retirement, 2014 Mandatory Retirement, 2014 PigottPigott Mandatory Retirement, 2016 Mandatory Retirement, 2016 ReadRead Reappointment/Replacement Jan. 2017 Reappointment/Replacement Jan. 2017

Mandatory Retirement, 2017Mandatory Retirement, 2017

court of appeals developments the pataki court vincent martin bonventre, j.d., ph.d. legislative...

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