Hector Daniel LaSalle[2] (born 1967/1968)[3] is an American lawyer and jurist who is the presiding judge of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department.
[4][5] LaSalle's nomination drew opposition from a wide variety of Democratic groups and constituencies, including numerous unions and trade groups, criminal justice advocates, elected officeholders, and local party affiliates, who raised concerns about his track record on issues relating to abortion, criminal justice, corporate interests, and the environment.
[9] In 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo nominated LaSalle to serve as the presiding judge of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department.
LaSalle's opponents noted that three other sitting judges on the Court—Rowan Wilson, Shirley Troutman and Jenny Rivera—were also reportedly among the 41 people who applied to the CJN for consideration, but did not make the final list.
[22] Opponents cited reports that DiFiore's three appointees had, in fact, actively worked to prevent the three liberal judges from reaching the shortlist.
On January 18, after a five-hour hearing, the senate's Judiciary Committee voted 10–9 against advancing his nomination to the floor,[24] the first time since New York began filling Court of Appeals vacancies through gubernatorial appointments rather than elections that lawmakers have rejected a nominee.
Hochul has suggested she may file suit to force a full Senate vote on LaSalle, arguing that the state constitution requires it.
"I think he most certainly demonstrated that he is a decent individual who pursues public service for the right reasons and has a moving personal story, as well as potentially the historic role of him being the first Latino chief judge", he said.
LaSalle had joined a short unanimous opinion that held a black defendant was not prejudiced by the court granting the prosecutor's peremptory challenge striking all dark-skinned jurors from the pool regardless of race, a decision ultimately reversed by the Court of Appeals on the grounds that the state constitution specifically bars discrimination on the basis of color as well as race.
Lastly, he believed that the backlash LaSalle had provoked made him unlikely to be able to unite a fractious court whose members were openly attacking each other in opinions.