Judith Kaye

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Judith S. Kaye, Chief Judge of New York (born August 4, 1938) was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo on February 22, 1993, confirmed by the New York Senate on March 17, and sworn in on March 23. She is the first woman to occupy the State Judiciary's highest office.

Kaye was born in Monticello, New York. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College (1958) and a LL.B. from New York University School of Law (cum laude) (1962). She was admitted to the New York State Bar, 1963. Kaye engaged in private practice in New York City until her appointment to the Court of Appeals.

Her current posts also include service as:

• Co-Chair of the "Commission on the American Jury" of the American Bar Association (2004-05)
• Chair of the "Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children"
• Founding Member and Honorary Chair, "Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert" (JALBCA)
• Member of the Board of Editors, New York State Bar Journal
• Trustee, "William Nelson Cromwell Foundation"

Kaye has served as President of the Conference of Chief Justices and Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Center for State Courts (2002-03). She is the author of numerous publications—particularly articles dealing with legal process, state constitutional law, women in law, professional ethics and problem-solving courts—as well as the recipient of many awards and several honorary degrees. Kaye was chief judge for the decision in People v. LaValle, the case which ruled that the state's death penalty statute was unconstitutional, in which she voted with the majority.

On July 6, 2006, Kaye authored a dissent in an omnibus appeal of four same-sex marriage disputes (including Hernandez v. Robles) in which the majority ruled that the state constitution "does not compel recognition of marriages between members of the same sex." Kaye's dissent admonished that while New York state has a tradition of upholding equal rights, "the court today retreats from that proud tradition."

On March 17, 2008, she officially swore in David Paterson as the 55th governor of the State of New York.

She is the widow of Stephen Rackow Kaye, who practiced law in New York City; they had three children.

Kaye will retire at the end of 2008, because during that year she will reach the state's mandatory retirement age of 70. [1]

[edit] References

• Cornell bio