Leibell Named to Senate Judiciary Committee

State Senator Vincent Leibell, former chairman and current ranking minority member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, has received new recognition by being appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Last week Leibell called it a “great honor,” since the Judiciary Committee is one of the Senate’s senior committees responsible for oversight of the state’s court system.

As a member of the Judiciary Committee, the Putnam, northern Westchester, and southern Dutchess lawmaker, will review policy and legislation related to the operation of New York’s court system: “The committee is high-volume and will review many pieces of legislation.”

Senator Leibell will also be a part of the process that reviews all judicial nominations made by the governor, including the Court of Claims, New York Court of Appeals and State Supreme Court nominees prior to a candidate’s consideration by the full Senate.

Leibell told the COURIER that he was “eagerly looking forward to working with my colleagues on the committee to improve the oversight and efficiency of New York’s courts by taking an active role in the judicial nomination process.”

The committee will deal with more than judicial nominations this year since its membership is also responsible for reviewing legislation relating to the court’s structure as well as the practice of law, administration of justice, real property law, criminal procedure law and the conduct of certain civil proceedings.