New York State is facing criticism after the chief judge of its highest court appointed actress Cynthia Nixon to a commission that screens and recommends candidates for the state's top judicial posts.
Nixon, known for her role as attorney Miranda Hobbes on the hit HBO series "Sex and the City," will be part of the 12-seat Commission on Judicial Nomination, which requires some members not to be licensed to practice law in the Empire State.
The appointment has sparked mockery and criticism, with some arguing that Nixon's selection is a sign of the state's judicial system becoming increasingly politicized.
Experts and lawmakers have expressed concern that appointing a non-lawyer with a background in activism could undermine the integrity of the judicial system and create a perception of partisanship.
Rep. Michael Lawler, a Republican from New York, stated that the move is "only in Kathy Hochul's New York" and that it will not bring "justice in the city."
National Review's John Fund tweeted that the move is the latest example of the New York legal system "making a parody of itself."
Others have pointed out that Nixon's character was a lawyer on the show, but she is not a licensed attorney in real life, fueling the criticism.
Lawmakers, including Republican Saritha Komatireddy, have expressed concerns that the appointment sends the wrong message about the importance of qualifications and experience in the judicial system.
Komatireddy stated that the appointment is part of a broader trend in New York, where politics increasingly takes precedence over public safety and common sense.
The appointment has also drawn criticism from at least one Democrat, Assemb. Kalman Yeger, who appeared to blame farther-left members of his party for dispensing with the governor's original nominee.
Republicans will also get their chance to appoint a member to the commission, alongside Nixon, and some have expressed alarm at the prospect of a partisan approach to judicial nominations.
Sen. Anthony Palumbo of Suffolk stated that the appointment should "alarm every New Yorker" and that it further reinforces the fact that the courts have become partisan.
