Gov. Kathy Hochul began to make her mark on the Court of Appeals by nominating Justice Shirley Troutman to join the court. If confirmed, Justice Troutman will replace Judge Eugene Fahey, who reached the mandatory retirement age this year and will step down at the end of the month. Justice Troutman was first elected to the Buffalo City Court in 1994. She went on to serve as an Erie County Court judge, a Supreme Court justice in the 8th Judicial District, and is currently an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. Justice Troutman would be the second Black woman to serve on New York's highest court.