It never pays to be hailed by some to be a hero in the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) community in the U.S. It could get you barred from running on the Democratic ticket, a move that virtually dooms any re-election prospects in November.
Appellate Term Justice Doris Ling-Cohan learned this the hard way after the Democratic Party’s judicial screening panel took the highly unusual step recently of not re-approving the judge.
"Attached is a copy of the 2016 Supreme Court Independent Judicial Screening Panel Report. You will note that Judge Doris Ling-Cohan is not on the list of incumbent judges found to Merit Continuation In Office," Curtis Arluck and Louise Dankberg, chair and co-chair of the party’s judiciary committee, said in an email to party officials last 31 August.
The panel found the judge was "lazy," and "slow" in handling her caseload, multiple sources said.
Two years ago, the Chinatown-raised Ling-Cohan became the first woman of Asian descent in the state to be appointed to an appellate court; in 2002 she became the first Asian woman to be elected to state Supreme Court.
But she is best known for her decision, in a five-couple class-action suit in 2005, to approve the right of same-sex couples to marry. She was the first trial judge in the state to do so, though her decision was quickly reversed on appeal.
Ling-Cohan's, however, developed a reputation "as one of the worst judges — non-productive, lazy, not hard-working, disorganized, takes a lot of time off, late with decisions," the source said.
Rejecting Ling-Cohan was "a slap in the face" to the LGBT community, said gay Democratic district leader Allen Roskoff. And more slapping is expected in the next couple of months.
Appellate Term Justice Doris Ling-Cohan learned this the hard way after the Democratic Party’s judicial screening panel took the highly unusual step recently of not re-approving the judge.
"Attached is a copy of the 2016 Supreme Court Independent Judicial Screening Panel Report. You will note that Judge Doris Ling-Cohan is not on the list of incumbent judges found to Merit Continuation In Office," Curtis Arluck and Louise Dankberg, chair and co-chair of the party’s judiciary committee, said in an email to party officials last 31 August.
The panel found the judge was "lazy," and "slow" in handling her caseload, multiple sources said.
Two years ago, the Chinatown-raised Ling-Cohan became the first woman of Asian descent in the state to be appointed to an appellate court; in 2002 she became the first Asian woman to be elected to state Supreme Court.
But she is best known for her decision, in a five-couple class-action suit in 2005, to approve the right of same-sex couples to marry. She was the first trial judge in the state to do so, though her decision was quickly reversed on appeal.
Ling-Cohan's, however, developed a reputation "as one of the worst judges — non-productive, lazy, not hard-working, disorganized, takes a lot of time off, late with decisions," the source said.
Rejecting Ling-Cohan was "a slap in the face" to the LGBT community, said gay Democratic district leader Allen Roskoff. And more slapping is expected in the next couple of months.