Governor Hochul: "This is just one community, but all across the state, people are expecting him to have the process, the fairness that has been accorded every other similarly-situated nominee in the history of our state. They all had their chance, not prejudged, not labeled, not misrepresented, but treated fairly. That's what we're asking for, justice and fairness for a man who deserves it."
Wow, this is extraordinary. But extraordinary times call for extraordinary people, and that is who has filled this room today. Leaders from all over have come to speak with one voice, and I could not be prouder to be the Governor of a state that values fairness and diversity and inclusion. And ultimately justice. Today we have, first of all, we honor Bishop Raymond Rivera for the work he does right here at the Latino Pastoral Outreach Center, touching the lives of so many people that need to know that God cares about them, and His people care about them. So thank you, Bishop Rivera.
To have the temporary Minority Leader, soon to be Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, who's here, is an honor for all of us. Your voice, nationally, on issues of what we're talking about here today is so important to all of us. You've made history, you make us proud. Another person has made history, Representative Nydia Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican, the first woman, the first Latina ever elected to Congress, is here today as well. Adriano Espaillat, Congressman Espaillat, the first Dominican ever elected to Congress. Senator Luis Sepúlveda, a great friend and champion for this community. Our Borough President Vanessa Gibson, has joined us as well as former Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr. Many, many others you'll be hearing from, our Secretary of State, Robert Rodriguez, is here, I thank him and all the members of my administration.
But here, today, I want to hear from them. Because you know where I stand. I stand with an outstanding individual, who came up through the process to be my nominee with the highest court in the state. Hector LaSalle, our next Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. He's the right person. He worked hard, parents born in Puerto Rico, working class family, having to deal with all the stress of being a young Puerto Rican man who wanted to make his mark. Went on to college, went to one of the finest law schools in our nation, Michigan, and came back and could have been recruited by one of those big law firms. He decided to devote himself to public service, serving his community, the District Attorney's office, the Attorney General's office, and ultimately deciding, despite the fact that there's not many role models, very few Latino judges out there, "I want to show what can be."
He ran for office, he got elected, he was appointed, and for years now, he has been presiding over one of the most complicated, difficult courts in our nation. Hundreds and hundreds of people come to those doors every day in the Appellate Division. He presides over that. With the right temperament, the right disposition, all the qualities you want to see in a judge of fairness and doing what's right. And so, to this community, I want to hear your voices. I thank you for standing with him, all across the state. This is just one community, but all across the state, people are expecting him to have the process, the fairness that has been accorded every other similarly-situated nominee in the history of our state. They all had their chance, not prejudged, not labeled, not misrepresented, but treated fairly. That's what we're asking for, justice and fairness for a man who deserves it.
Ladies and gentlemen, as the Governor of State of New York, one of the highest responsibilities I have is to nominate judges and ultimately the Chief Judge when there's a vacancy of the Court of Appeals. I took that process seriously. I examined all the records. I saw the cases, even those that are being maligned and used against him, and they are false, being falsely represented, and that's what I will not stand for.
So I thank the people coming out here today. On Dr. Martin Luther King weekend we celebrate a man who stood for doing what's right, and standing up to adversity, standing up to challenges in the pursuit of doing what's right. That's what today is all about. That's what Wednesday will be all about, it'll be what the floor on the vote is all about, and I believe, when people open up their minds and open up their hearts, doing what's right, he'll become our next Chief Judge, and I could not be prouder. Thank you. Congressmember Nydia Velázquez, thank you for adding your voice to this important debate.
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