Judge Rolando Acosta for the Court of Appeals

In early 2013, Gov. Andrew Cuomo will appoint a successor to the only Hispanic judge among the seven members of the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s top court. The governor must recognize the importance of diversity and choose a Hispanic for the post.

It won’t be easy to fill the shoes of Judge Carmen B. Ciparick, the first Hispanic on the court, who is retiring. Cuomo must choose among seven finalists, including three Latinos with stellar records: Rolando T. Acosta, Jenny Rivera and Margarita Rosa.

However, Judge Acosta, who is currently an associate justice in the Appellate Division, First Department, is the best candidate. Born in the Dominican Republic, Acosta has for years demonstrated strong leadership. He has served on the boards of the Latino Commission on AIDS, Alianza Dominicana and the Hispanic Federation. He also worked for the Legal Aid Society representing low-income clients, as well as in the New York City Civil Court. Acosta also served as Deputy Commissioner for Law Enforcement for the NYC Commission on Human Rights.

Acosta is a prolific writer and authored historic court decisions. Among them is Williams v. New York City Housing Authority, where he wrote about the “severe or pervasive doctrine” that left many women without access to justice in sexual harassment situations. Before this decision, sexual harassment had to be “severe or pervasive” in order to be investigated. Acosta’s dissent in People v. Correa helped lay the groundwork for courts specializing in domestic violence and juvenile issues.

Because of his vast experience, we’re convinced Acosta is the best choice for New York. If he’s appointed, he would become the first Dominican judge in that court, an important achievement for a growing community and an increasingly diverse state.

We strongly urge the governor to ensure that all courts and agencies reflect Hispanic talent and leaders.