Progressive activist and actress Cynthia Nixon has joined the committee responsible for selecting New York’s top judges, as reported by the New York Post. Nixon, known for her democratic socialist views, was appointed to a four-year term on the Commission on Judicial Nomination. This panel reviews candidates for the state Court of Appeals, and the governor can only appoint nominees approved by the commission. Her term will end on April 30, 2030.
Some Republican lawmakers, including State Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Anthony Palumbo, criticized the appointment by Chief Judge Rowan Wilson. They argue that appointing a celebrity activist without a law degree sends a political message.
“I’m disappointed, but not surprised that we have a radical progressive actress without a law degree selecting judges in the state of New York,” said Palumbo to The New York Post.
According to her biography on the New York State website, Nixon is a native New Yorker who began acting professionally at 12. She has a longstanding career as an actor and director. Her political activism focuses on abortion access, public school funding, LGBTQ equality, and breast cancer awareness. Nixon’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign emphasized economic, racial, and gender equality.
Nixon is best known for her role as lawyer Miranda Hobbes in HBO’s “Sex and the City,” but she has also appeared in other TV shows like “The Gilded Age.” Most commission members are practicing lawyers or government officials, but a law degree is not required.
The commission plays a crucial role in state government. Its purpose is to ensure that judges for New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, are chosen from candidates who reflect the state’s diversity and are highly qualified. The Constitution mandates that the Governor selects Judges of the Court of Appeals only from the commission’s nominees.
Legal analyst Jonathan Turley expressed disapproval on social media, writing, “The New York legal system continues to make a parody of itself. Cynthia Nixon, who played a lawyer on HBO’s Sex and the City, has been appointed by New York Chief Judge Rowan Wilson to screen and recommend candidates for New York’s highest court.”
Nixon lost the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary to incumbent Andrew Cuomo. During the campaign, she embraced the democratic socialist label, stating in Politico that essential services like healthcare, housing, and education should be basic rights.
Last year, Nixon supported New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after his primary win, praising him on Instagram. Fox News Digital reached out to Nixon’s representatives for comments but did not receive an immediate response.