How to achieve chief judge compromise

The process of appointing a chief judge has taken on an adversarial quality that feels unseemly. Does the state constitution obligate the state Senate to ignore its procedures for processing nominations? Who knows, and how many of the body politic care?

The rift that will ensue between the Legislature and governor as they struggle over this could impair the future collaboration necessary to address the substantive issues confronting our state.

Borrowing from the adage “Politics is the art of compromise,” might there be a way forward? Simply put: Swapping positions.

Both state Supreme Court Presiding Justice Hector D. Lasalle, nominated by Gov. Kathy Hochul as her choice for chief judge, and Edwina G. Richardson-mendelson, the candidate proposed as the state’s new chief administrative judge, have strong credentials as jurists and administrators, and both have both been recommended for the position of chief judge by the state Commission on Judicial Nomination.

It might require a little flexibility; the current nomination would have to be withdrawn, seemingly prior to consideration by the entire Senate, allowing for the swap without requiring the commission to restart the selection process.

How cool would it be if the governor and Senate then issued a joint statement noting that the issue is so complex and our relationship is so important that it warranted compromise? Those who are cynical about government would be stopped in their tracks and the applause from the rest of us would be deafening.

Scott Fein Lake George