Excellent judgment

Gov. Cuomo made a terrific pick this week when he selected Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Rolando Acosta to be presiding justice of the preeminent state appeals court in the nation, the First Department Appellate Division overseeing Manhattan and Bronx cases.

Coming to New York from the Dominican Republic as a 14-year-old who spoke not a word of English, Acosta was top of his class at DeWitt Clinton High School before Columbia, where he was one of the greatest pitchers the Lions ever had, and was recruited for the majors. Instead, he went to Columbia Law as a prestigious Stone Scholar. He’s now a trustee of the university.

In 20 years on the bench, the last decade on the same appellate panel, he’s been a standout jurist.

He’s so good, in fact, that Cuomo should have tapped him 18 months ago, when the seat opened. For some reason, the gov dithered.

Now in the center seat, Acosta must live-stream all oral arguments, thus ending the First Department’s place as the only New York appeals court not to let the people hear arguments and rulings.