1973 New York state election
| Elections in New York State |
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The1973 New York state electionwas held on November 6, 1973, to elect theChief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.Besides, a $3,500,000,000 transit-bond issue was proposed by GovernorNelson A. Rockefeller,and rejected by the voters with 1,593,531 votes For and 2,210,907 votes Against it.
Background
[edit]Chief JudgeStanley H. Fuldwould reach the constitutional age limit of 70 years at the end of the year.
For the first time since the election ofFrank H. HiscockoverAlmet F. Jenksin 1916, the election for Chief judge was contested. For almost 60 years, all Chief Judges had been cross-endorsed by the two major parties.
Nominations
[edit]Democratic primary
[edit]TheDemocraticState Committee met on March 12. No candidate received a majority, and the three contenders who polled more than 25% of the vote,U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New YorkJudge Jack B. Weinstein,AppellateJustice Francis T. Murphy andSupreme CourtJustice Irwin R. Brownstein, were designated to run in aprimary electionfor Chief Judge.[1]Trial lawyer Lawrence D. Fuchsberg filed a petition to challenge the designees. The primary was held on June 5.[2]The result was so narrow that the winner was known only after the release of the official result on June 21, Fuchsberg winning by a plurality of 755 votes.[3]
| Office | Party designees | Challenger | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Judge | Jack B. Weinstein | 242,039 | Francis T. Murphy, Jr.[4] | 213,673 | Irwin R. Brownstein | 81,618 | Jacob D. Fuchsberg | 242,794 |
Other parties
[edit]TheRepublicansmet on March 7, and nominated Charles D. Breitel.[5]
TheLiberalsmet on March 10, and endorsed the Republican nominee Charles D. Breitel.[6]
TheConservativesnominated Supreme Court Justice James J. Leff, a registered Democrat, for Chief Judge.
Result
[edit]The Republican/Liberal candidate was elected.
| Office | Republicanticket | Democraticticket | Liberalticket | Conservativeticket | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Judge | Charles D. Breitel | 1,957,314 | Jacob D. Fuchsberg | 1,850,552 | Charles D. Breitel | 248,075 | James J. Leff[7] | 219,314 |
Notes
[edit]- ^Five Democrats Will Vie In Primary for Chief Judgein NYT on March 13, 1973 (subscription required)
- ^Fuchsberg Has Slim Lead In Counting for Judgeship; 'Could Go Either Way;' Leads in 3 Boroughsin NYT on June 6, 1973 (subscription required)
- ^Chief-Judge Nomination Is Won by Fuchsbergin NYT on June 22, 1973 (subscription required)
- ^Francis T. Murphy (b. 1927), ofThe Bronx,son of Francis T. Murphy (1896-1973 assemblyman 1945-46), New York Supreme Court justice 1968-97, Appellate Division (First Dept.) 1972-96, Presiding Justice 1978-97,A Prominent Judge Retires, Objecting to the Governor's Litmus Testin NYT on December 14, 1997
- ^G.O.P. Nominates Breitel For Chief Judge of State; Pact Barred by Feudin NYT on March 7, 1973 (subscription required)
- ^Breitel Wins Bipartisan Support as Liberal Party Endorses Him for Appeals Court Postin NYT on March 11, 1973 (subscription required)
- ^James J. Leff (ca. 1921-1998), ofManhattan,DeWitt Clinton High School,New York UniversityandHarvardgraduate, New York supreme Court justice 1969-96,James J. Leff, 77, Outspoken New York JudgeObit in NYT on April 9, 1998
Sources
[edit]- Official result:Metropolitan Briefs; New York Certifies Transit-Bond Votein NYT on December 13, 1973 (subscription required)