Against a wave of opposition from progressive groups, Gov. Kathy Hochul nominated Appellate Division Judge Hector LaSalle as New York's next chief judge, potentially making him the first Hispanic to sit in the high court's middle bench seat, while, to the dismay of some, returning its composition to four former prosecutors.

But apart from those critics, and a letter signed by more than 45 New York law professors in opposition to LaSalle's nomination, the pick was saluted by several legal observers.

'The Governor Ignored the Static'

"What is noteworthy about the LaSalle selection is that the governor ignored the static from progressive, left-wing ideologues, both in the Legislature and the academy, and instead selected a moderate and capable centrist judge," said Morrison Cohen partner and retired Appellate Division, First Department Judge David Saxe.

LaSalle is the presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department in Brooklyn, said to be the country's busiest appellate court, and where he has been credited for reducing substantial case backlogs.

If confirmed by the state Senate, LaSalle would replace former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, who retired unexpectedly in August, four years shy of mandatory retirement age.

John Buonora, a retired former chief assistant district attorney in Suffolk County who worked with LaSalle in that office, said he was "absolutely thrilled" to hear of LaSalle's nomination.

"He will make a great chief judge," Buonora, an adjunct law professor at Touro University, said. "I think that those who opposed Judge LaSalle's nomination because of his prosecutorial background may be pleasantly surprised about how fair and evenhanded he is on criminal justice issues."