NY court weighs Lieutenant Governor appointment

Story Created: Jul 15, 2009 at 9:37 AM EST

Story Updated: Jul 15, 2009 at 9:37 AM EST

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) - Lawyers for Gov. David Paterson are due
back in court to defend last week's appointment of Richard Ravitch
as New York's lieutenant governor.

The appointment was a bid to break a leadership deadlock in the state Senate.

The move appeared to succeed. Rebel Democratic Sen. Pedro Espada
dropped a month-long affiliation with Senate Republicans and
returned to his party.
That ended a month-long stalemate in the statehouse. But it set off the court fight over Ravitch's appointment.

A Senate attorney contends the appointment of Ravitch is unconstitutional. Paterson's lawyer says the governor is within his
rights.

A hearing is scheduled Wednesday afternoon in Nassau County, home to Republican Dean Skelos, the Senate minority leader.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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