Governor Hochul’s belief that New York’s highest court should serve as a counterweight to the U.S. Supreme Court was a welcome signal for Democrats back in November, which is why we are deeply disturbed by her nomination of Justice Hector LaSalle. Justice LaSalle's record of anti-abortion, anti-labor decisions disqualifies him from serving as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, and fails Governor Hochul’s self-imposed “counterweight” test. At a time when women's bodily autonomy is under direct threat, we need judges who will uphold reproductive freedom, not judges who shield "crisis pregnancy centers" from the law. We need judges who will protect the rights of unions against for-profit corporations. New Yorkers deserve a Chief Judge who will defend the civil rights of every citizen. We oppose this nomination and we urge both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate as a whole to vote No.