The Honorable Rowan D. Wilson was confirmed by the New York Senate on Tuesday as the state’s next Chief Judge.
“Judge Rowan Wilson is a highly qualified jurist with a keen sense of fairness and a deep commitment to justice,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “Throughout his tenure on the bench, he has proven himself to be a thoughtful leader who recognizes the power of the judiciary to impact the lives of all New Yorkers. Before joining the Court, Judge Wilson had a distinguished career as a commercial litigator and became the first Black partner at the prestigious firm Cravath, Swaine and Moore. I am confident that he will use this experience and his fair-minded approach that has guided his time on the Court of Appeals while serving as Chief Judge.
“I proudly nominated Judge Wilson to serve as Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, and I am pleased by his confirmation by the Senate. His confirmation also marks a significant milestone: the first Black Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.”
Hon. Rowan D. Wilson has served as an Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals since 2017. If confirmed, Judge Wilson would make history as the first Black Chief Judge. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and graduated from Harvard Law School. Following law school, from 1984 to 1986, Judge Wilson served as Law Clerk to Hon. James R. Browning, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
He then joined Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP as an associate, and became a partner in 1992, notably serving as the first Black partner in the firm’s history. While in private practice, Judge Wilson handled numerous corporate and pro bono matters. He also served as Trustee for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and for the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, and for twenty-one years as Chairman of the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, which provides legal representation and community-based public defense services to the Harlem community.
“I congratulate Judge Wilson on his confirmation and look forward to working closely with him to elevate the esteem of our State’s highest court, protect New Yorkers’ rights and safety, and ensure that justice is administered,” added Hochul.
