Former Chief Judge Judith Kaye, the first woman appointed to New York’s top court, has died.
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“Throughout her more than 25 year career in public service, Chief Judge Kaye was a force for progress who had a profound impact on our state”, said Governor Andrew Cuomo. Kaye was Chief Judge until 2008.
On the bench she wrote important decisions ranging from gay marriage to the death penalty, created specialized courts to focus on issues such as drug addiction, domestic violence and mental health issues.
Following her report, State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher announced SUNY would take steps to strengthen the relationship between academics and athletics at Binghamton University and across the SUNY System.
She had since worked in private practice and served on a number of commissions.
Kaye went on to work for a year in the IBM legal department and then as a commercial litigator at a firm whose clients included the Lionel Corp., the New York Produce Exchange, Ralston Purina Co., the Singer Co. and U.S. Industries, according to the biography. She told us about her initial feel sings after getting the call from Mario Cuomo in 1993 to serve as the court’s highest judge, as well as a humorous story recalling her biggest regret.
She was also the Court’s longest serving Chief Judge.
“Judge Judith Kaye was a towering figure in New York State and I am deeply saddened at her passing”, said Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers).
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Kaye served as Cuomo’s independent special counsel while he was Attorney General. She was an indefatigable champion of justice and she did it all with grace, charm and a powerful intellect. The Alliance for Quality Education joins all New Yorkers in mourning the loss of one of our state’s true heroes.
