For his first nomination to the Court of Appeals, Gov. Andrew Cuomo made an atypical nomination in choosing Jenny Rivera, a professor at the City University of New York School of Law. Though she had an extensive background in academia her lack of litigation experience led to a challenging hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
But Rivera weathered the storm and was confirmed by the full Senate on Feb. 11, 2013. The judge has now settled in her new role, with a series of opinions and dissents over the past 11 months that reveal an affinity for the underdog, a skepticism of government power and a commitment to individual rights.
