ALBANY—Lawyers argued for over two hours in Mineola over the legality of David Paterson's appointment of Richard Ravitch as lieutenant governor, with the judge saying things would be decided "expeditiously," a lawyer involved in the case said.
"It took a good two and a half hours plus," said John Ciampoli, an attorney representing Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos. Ciampoli said Supreme Court Justice William LaMarca "would try and decide this expeditiously, but didn't give us a date."
Ciampoli, along with attorney David Lewis, argued that Paterson exceeded his constitutional authority when he appointed Ravitch last week. Skelos filed suit in Nassau County, where he lives, to temporarily restrain Ravitch from acting as lieutenant governor and challenge Paterson's authority to make such a designation. Last week, a judge lifted a temporary restraining order, but the case on the merits moves forward.
Paterson was represented by Kathleen Sullivan, a former dean of Stanford Law School, as well as Faith Gay, a partner in the firm of Quinn Emanuel.
Ciampoli said that in addition to attempts to dismiss the suit, Paterson's lawyers have also filed a motion to transfer it to Albany County, which they have claimed is the proper venue to hear the case as the site of the Capitol.
A spokesman for the governor did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
