Here's an update we just received from our friend (and political gadfly) Alan Flacks:
Today, Gov. Paterson made appointments to various courts. Shirley Werner Kornreich was appointed to the State Supreme Court to fill the remaining term of the vacancy created by the resignation in February of Justice Stephen Crane.
Kornreich, an acting Justice since 2002, is a New York City Civil Court Judge elected county-wide from New York County. She will be considered an incumbent judge by the New York County Democratic Party under the "Crane Rule."
Additionally, State Supreme Court Justices Leland DeGrasse and Dianne Renwick, elected from New York County and Bronx County, respectively, were named to the Appellate Division, First Dept. Court-watchers felt that the Renwick appointment -- she's the wife of the Bronx D.A. -- was not a surprise.
James Maitland Kindler, a chief assistant district attorney in Morgenthau's office, was nominated for a Court of Claims judgeship.
Paterson will have another opportunity to appoint a State Supreme Court Justice in the First Judicial District (Manhattan) when James Yates leaves the bench on April 28th to become the Governor's counsel.