The Court of Appeals is New York state’s highest court, and according to court watchers like Albany Law professor Dr. Vin Bonventre, it’s one of the very top state courts in the nation.  

In his New York Court Watcher blog, Bonventre has written extensively about both the New York Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of United States, and his comparisons have left the nation’s highest court in the dust.

Recently, the Court of Appeals’ chief clerk retired after 24 years, which is big news in legal circles, since Lisa LeCours was the highest non-judicial officer of the court. 

LeCours subsequently joined the Appellate Practice Group at the firm Harris Beach.

When asked about a Court of Appeals case that would be of interest to the Capital Tonight audience, LeCours mentioned Amedure v. State of New York, which is on the docket for Oct. 15 and stems from the high number of absentee ballots utilized during the COVID-10 pandemic.  

“The case involved legislation enacted in 2021 that altered the way that absentee ballots are canvassed, and so it has to do with some pretty intricate provisions in that statute,” LeCours told Capital Tonight.

You can find more on the case here.

According to LeCours, the Appellate Division, 3rd Department in Albany issued a 3-2 decision in August in this case. With a two-justice dissent, the case automatically goes to the Court of Appeals; the party in question doesn’t need to seek permission. 

According to Brian D. Ginsburg, a partner at Harris Beach and chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group, LeCours is a great resource. 

“Lisa is a singular talent. Her knowledge of the inner workings of the New York State Court of Appeals is unparalleled in private practice today. Lisa also is a formidable litigator, having briefed and argued appeals on behalf of the State of New York in the New York State Solicitor General’s Office before beginning her service at the High Court. And to top it all off, Lisa is a pleasure to worth with. I am grateful that Lisa decided to join our team,” Ginsburg wrote in an email to Capital Tonight.