His Lasting Impact on the New York Court of Appeals
By Tyler J. Wilson
Tyler Wilson is a 2021 graduate of Albany Law School. During law school, he served as Managing Editor of Business and Production for the Albany Government Law Review.
Prior to attending law school, he received a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Buffalo in legal studies and was a member of the Men’s Baseball Team. Tyler is currently an associate (pending admission) in Buffalo for the law firm, Gibson, McAskill & Crosby, LLP.
The New York Court of Appeals has a rich and storied history. One reason for this is the many excellent judges who have sat on the bench. One judge who has a significant role in shaping the court was Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke. He did so by authoring opinions on important issues which promoted justice and were based on solid legal reasoning.
Chief Judge Cooke would go on to have a lasting impact on the court. His small-town roots and family values shaped his judicial philosophy. Chief Judge Cooke truly believed in fairness and justice for all, and he showed this in his majority opinions and dissents.
Cooke was also a vigorous advocate for independent New York State Constitution Law, and he was a leader in helping to improve the legal profession in the state of New York. It is important to look back on Chief Judge Cooke’s legacy and the history of the Court to understand how it got to where it is today and where it may be headed.
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