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Rowan D. Wilson

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Rowan Wilson
Wilson in 2023
Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 18, 2023
Appointed byKathy Hochul
Preceded byAnthony Cannataro (acting)
Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
In office
February 6, 2017 – April 18, 2023
Appointed byAndrew Cuomo
Preceded byEugene F. Pigott Jr.
Succeeded byCaitlin Halligan
Personal details
Born (1960-09-03) September 3, 1960 (age 64)
Pomona, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic[1]
EducationHarvard University (BA, JD)

Rowan D. Wilson (born September 3, 1960) is an American judge who has served as the chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals since 2023. He is the first African American to serve as chief judge.[2][3][4]

Early life and education

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Wilson was born in Pomona, California, and grew up in Berkeley, California. He graduated from Harvard College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, and from Harvard Law School in 1984 with a Juris Doctor, where he was an editor of the Harvard Civil Rights–Civil Liberties Law Review.[5]

Career

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After serving a two-year term as law clerk to James R. Browning, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Wilson joined the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore as an associate in 1986. In 1992, he became the first African-American partner at Cravath. He remained a litigation partner until 2017, with a practice that included antitrust, intellectual property, securities fraud, and civil rights litigation.[5]

During his time at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Wilson eventually headed the firm’s pro bono practice and representing the law firm as a trustee at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Wilson was also the chair of the Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem, providing legal representation to indigent residents of New York.[6]

He was nominated as an associate judge of the New York Court of Appeals by Governor Andrew Cuomo on January 15, 2017, and confirmed by the New York State Senate on February 6, 2017.[4]

On March 24, 2023, Wilson was selected as a finalist under consideration for appointment to the New York Court of Appeals, this time for the position of chief judge following the retirement of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and the subsequent rejection of Justice Hector LaSalle's nomination to that seat by the New York State Senate.[7]

On April 10, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wilson's nomination for Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.[8] On April 18, the New York State Senate confirmed Wilson as Chief Judge by a vote of 40–19.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Romano, Stephen (February 7, 2017). "Port Resident Rowan Wilson Confirmed to Court of Appeals". The Island Now.
  2. ^ Hill, Michael (April 18, 2023). "1st Black chief judge for New York state confirmed". AP News.
  3. ^ Patrick McGeehan (January 16, 2017). "Cuomo Nominates Rowan Wilson to New York's Highest Court". The New York Times. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Honorable Rowan D. Wilson". Nycourts.gov. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Hon. Rowan D. Wilson". Cravath - Hon. Rowan D. Wilson.
  6. ^ "New NY Top Judge Went from Cravath to Leading Court Liberal (1)". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  7. ^ Mellins, Sam (March 24, 2023). "New Chief Judge Shortlist Features Previously Excluded Liberal Judges". New York Focus. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis (April 10, 2023). "Hochul Names a New Candidate to Become New York's Top Judge". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  9. ^ DeWitt, Karen (April 18, 2023). "Rowan Wilson confirmed as New York's first African American chief judge". WXXI News. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
2017–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
2023–present 		Incumbent
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