Seated from left to right: Associate Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Presiding Justice Dianne T. Renwick, and Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson attend the investiture ceremony for Renwick at the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department in Manhattan on Jan. 22, 2024. Photo: Ryland West/ALM

Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department Dianne Renwick was officially sworn in Monday, in a historic investiture ceremony that saw the first African American woman appointed as presiding justice in the court's 129-year history. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul—who named Renwick as presiding justice in June—addressed attendees, as did New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Rowan Wilson. "There is an alternative universe I think about sometimes [...] in which Justice Renwick became chief judge of the Court of Appeals," Wilson said to laughs from Renwick and attendees. Wilson went on to say that he would swap for that alternative universe in a "heartbeat" to lessen his administrative load, but that he knew the First Department in the "real universe" would benefit from the "intelligence, compassion, and determination" of Renwick. "I like this version," Renwick said to laughs in her own remarks at the ceremony, which took place Monday morning at the First Department at 27 Madison Ave. in Manhattan. Renwick said that serving as presiding justice had been "stimulating and fulfilling," and devoted much of her comments to the historical absence of women from the New York state judiciary before 2008, when the composition began to change. "Today women comprise the majority of our bench, 13 of our 21 justices," she stated. However, Renwick noted that of the 140 justices to sit in the First Department, only 22 have been women. Renwick said the appointment was a "distinct honor and a privilege," and extended thanks to the many justices who had come before her, her mentors, court staff, and family. "I will do everything in my power to ensure we continue this tradition of excellence," she said. "Thank you to the remarkable men and women who have paved the way for my appointment." Associate Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels of the First Department emceed the investiture. In her comments, she noted that Renwick was not simply the first woman of color to be appointed as presiding justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, but the first to serve as presiding justice of any intermediate appellate court in the state.