Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday nominated Port Washington resident Rowan D. Wilson to serve on the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals.
Wilson, 56, has been a litigation partner at New York City-based Cravath, Swaine & Moore for over 30 years.
“The New York State Court of Appeals embodies the highest values of government service, and I am confident Rowan Wilson will continue to articulate and uphold the principles of law and fairness that embody the best of New York,” Cuomo said.
If approved by the state Senate, Wilson, a Democrat, will replace Judge Eugene Pigott, a Republican, who was appointed by Gov. George Pataki and stepped down on Dec. 31 after reaching age 70, the mandatory retirement age for the Court of Appeals.
“I am both humbled and honored to be nominated by Governor Cuomo to serve as an associate judge on the state’s highest court,” Wilson said. “My entire career has been dedicated to the pursuit of justice and there is no better place to continue those efforts than on the New York State Court of Appeals. I thank Gov. Cuomo for this opportunity and look forward to working together to create a stronger, fairer New York for all.”
Wilson, if confirmed, will be the first Long Island resident to be on the state Court of Appeals since Sol Wachtler, who served from 1985 to 1992, and the Court of Appeals would be left with one Republican judge.
After receiving a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1984, Wilson worked in a two-year clerkship with Judge James R. Browning, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Wilson joined Cravath, Swaine & Moore in 1986 and became a partner in 1992.
Although Wilson lacks judicial experience, he has a strong background in commercial litigation, ranging from antitrust and intellectual property law to contract, security fraud and entertainment and media law, according to a news release from the governor.
Wilson has represented multinational financial service corporations, including Fortune 500 companies and other organizations “on high-profile issues throughout the United States and in a variety of venues including the United States Supreme Court and federal and state appellate and trials courts,” according to the news release.
Focusing on civil rights throughout his career, beginning in college as a member of the Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Law Review, Wilson has led his law firm’s pro bono work, advocating for the expansion of civil rights, according to his biography.
“With decades of experience in complex commercial litigation and his leadership role in the firm’s pro bono work, I am confident he has the intellect, integrity and compassion we need to continue moving New York forward,” Cuomo said. “I am proud to nominate him to serve as an associate judge, and I look forward to his swift confirmation by the state Senate.”
Wilson’s confirmation would also result in the Court of Appeals having two African-Americans serving on it for the first time.
