New York's courts need a strong leader

The job of top judge in New York is a very tough one. Actually, it's two very tough jobs. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo must select someone who can do both very well.

The new chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals will take the reins of a bench that has lost its luster as a beacon of jurisprudence. New York was once respected for having some of the nation's best legal minds, jurists who forged pathways in the law to meet the challenges of changing times. New York decisions are no longer widely cited as precedents. The court is not authoritative, its legal reasoning is often weak, it issues too many separate or dissenting opinions, and it exhibits signs of a chief judge failing to inspire and coax a cohesive, authoritative voice.

The second job may even be tougher, managing a unified court system that has the biggest docket in the world, with more than 4 million cases, 3,500 judges, 350 courthouses and an annual budget of more than $2.5 billion. The chief judge must be an excellent manager, developing and overseeing policies and rules that deliver justice timely and fairly. At a time when oversentencing demands a reduction in prison populations, and excessive bail keeps too many needlessly in jail, the chief judge must make sure that criminal court judges adhere to new guidelines but have the flexibility to keep violent offenders off the streets.

Seven candidates have been recommended to Cuomo by a selection committee. Two stand out. Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore, a former supervising judge, has leadership skills and deep experience in the court system. Caitlin Halligan, a highly regarded appellate lawyer in private practice and former New York solicitor general, has the requisite legal scholarship and craftsmanship.

New York's courts and judicial system need an accomplished and respected leader like never before.