Former NY Governor Paterson Joining First Anderson Series Program of 2023
Past New York State Governor David A. Paterson is a panelist on the first program of the 2023 Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series presented by the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, “The Lieutenant Governor: Filling Vacancies and Assuring That Government Works,” on February 28 from noon-1 p.m.
“The panel will focus on the office of the Lieutenant Governor: when a vacancy occurs before the expiration of a term; the role of the Lieutenant Governor when the Governor unable to fulfill their duties; and other critical issues related to vacancies and appointments,” said the Hon. Leslie E. Stein ’81, Director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School. “We are delighted that Governor Paterson will provide insight based on his first-hand experiences in the role of Lieutenant Governor.”
Warren M. Anderson programs are free and open to the public, but registration is required. For attorneys who attend, one continuing legal education (CLE) professional practice credit is available.
While the position of Lt. Governor traditionally entails duties as may be assigned by the Governor and presiding as President of the New York State Senate, the office has been under recent scrutiny.
After the resignation of former Governor Andrew Cuomo in August 2021, then Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul succeeded him, with Andrea Stewart-Cousins becoming the acting Lieutenant Governor. Hochul then selected State Senator Brian Benjamin for the position. After Benjamin's resignation in April 2022, Stewart-Cousins became the acting Lieutenant Governor for the second time. The office is currently held by Antonio Delgado, who was initially sworn in on May 25, 2022. Hochul and Delgado were elected in November 2022 to serve a full term in office.
As a panelist, Paterson brings first-hand insight on the role of Lieutenant Governor, having served in that position beginning in 2007. After then-Governor Elliot Spitzer resigned, Paterson was sworn in as the 55th Governor of New York on March 17, 2008.
Paterson was the first Black governor in the history of the New York State, the fourth Black governor in the history of the United States, and second legally blind governor in the nation's history. He served until December 2010.
Bennett Liebman, Lawyer in Residence with the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, will moderate the panel. Additional panelists include:
- Hon. Helen E. Freedman (ret.), Former Associate Justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department
- Patrick A. Woods ’12, Deputy Director, Government Law Center at Albany Law School
This program is the first of four held monthly each year from February through May. The Warren M. Anderson programs feature experts who address major legal and policy issues pending before the New York State government.
Programs from past years can be viewed at albanylaw.edu/government-law-center/warren-m-anderson-series.
The series is named in honor of Warren M. Anderson, Albany Law School class of ‘40 who served in the New York State Senate for 36 years, working with six governors. He was the longest-serving majority leader of the Senate, holding that position from 1973-1988.
Anderson was best known for working to bail out New York City from its fiscal crisis in the mid-1970s. He was also responsible for establishing the state’s Tuition Assistance Program, which helped fund the education of thousands of New York college students.
