Anthony Cannataro

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Tony Cannataro

| image = Anthony cannataro.jpg

| office = Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals

| status = Acting

| term_start = September 1, 2022

| term_end = April 18, 2023

| predecessor = Janet DiFiore

| successor = Rowan D. Wilson

| office1 = Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals

| appointer1 = Andrew Cuomo

| term_start1 = June 8, 2021

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Paul Feinman

| successor1 =

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1965|7}}

| birth_place = New Jersey, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic{{Cite web |title=Election 2017: So, Who Are Those Judges You'll Have to Vote On? |url=https://citylimits.org/election-2017-so-who-are-those-judges-youll-have-to-vote-on/ |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=City Limits |language=en-US}}

| education = Columbia University (BA)
New York Law School (JD)

}}

Anthony Cannataro (born July 1965) is an associate judge of the New York Court of Appeals, serving since September 1, 2022. He has served as an associate judge of the same court since his 2021 appointment by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cannataro previously served as the chief administrative judge of the New York City Civil Court from 2018 to 2021 and as a judge on various New York City courts from 2012 to 2021.

Early life and education

Cannataro was born in July 1965 in New Jersey.{{Cite web |title=Honorable Anthony Cannataro |url=https://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/jcannataro.htm |access-date=2021-08-12 |website=www.nycourts.gov}} He earned a Bachelor of Arts in the Classics from Columbia University in 1993 and his Juris Doctor from New York Law School in June 1996.{{Cite press release |title=Governor Cuomo Announces Nominations for Court of Appeals and Court of Claims and First Round of Appointments to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court |date=May 25, 2021 |publisher=Office of the Governor |url=https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-nominations-court-appeals-and-court-claims-and-first-round |access-date=May 25, 2021}} {{PD-notice}}{{Cite web |title=Anthony Cannataro Judge Profile on Martindale.com |url=https://www.martindale.com/attorney/anthony-cannataro-535408/ |access-date=May 25, 2021 |website=www.martindale.com}}{{cite book |url=https://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1038&context=commencement_progs |title=One Hundred Fourth Commencement |date=June 10, 1996 |page=3 |publisher=New York Law School |access-date=November 1, 2021}}

Career

Cannataro was the principal law clerk to Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick of the New York Court of Appeals from 2000 to 2003 and principal law clerk to Judge Lottie E. Wilkins of the New York Supreme Court from 2003 to 2011. From 2012 to 2017 he was elected to serve as a judge of the New York City Civil Court. From 2012 to 2014 he was designated a judge of the New York Family Court for Kings County, New York. From 2014 to 2015 he was a judge of the New York City Civil Court for The Bronx. From 2015 to 2016 he was designated an acting Supreme Court Justice for the New York Supreme Court. From 2016 to 2018, he was appointed a supervising judge for the New York City Civil Court. In 2017 he was elected to the New York Supreme Court to serve in the civil term. From 2018 to 2021, he served as an administrative judge of the New York City Civil Court after being appointed by chief administrative judge Lawrence K. Marks.

= New York Court of Appeals service =

Cannataro was one of seven candidates submitted to the governor in April 2021.{{Cite web |last=Tarinelli |first=Ryan |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Meet the Latest Candidates for a Seat on New York's Top Court |url=https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2021/04/30/meet-the-latest-candidates-for-a-seat-on-new-yorks-top-court/ |access-date=May 25, 2021 |website=New York Law Journal |language=en}} On May 25, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Cannataro as a nominee to be an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, filling the seat vacated by the retirement of Judge Paul Feinman on March 23, 2021. He was confirmed on June 8, 2021, and took office the same day.{{Cite web|title=Singas, Cannataro confirmed for New York's top court|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/ny-state-of-politics/2021/06/08/singas--cannataro-confirmed-for-new-york-s-top-court|access-date=2021-06-09|website=spectrumlocalnews.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=New York State Court of Appeals|url=https://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/|access-date=2021-06-09|website=www.nycourts.gov}} His formal investiture ceremony took place on April 5, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Cabrera |first=Devin |last2=Divelbiss |first2=Timothy |last3=Preston |first3=Evelyn |date=April 13, 2022 |title=Newest Court of Appeals judges formally seated during investiture ceremony |url=https://legislativegazette.com/newest-court-of-appeals-judges-formally-seated-during-investiture-ceremony/ |access-date=April 15, 2022 |website=The Legislative Gazette |language=en-US}} Cannataro is the second openly gay judge to have served on the New York Court of Appeals.{{Cite web |last=Bellamy-Walker |first=Tat |date=May 25, 2021 |title=Cuomo Nominates Gay Judge to State's Highest Court |url=https://www.gaycitynews.com/gay-judge-anthony-cannataro-paul-feinman-new-york-court-appeals/ |access-date=May 21, 2021 |website=www.gaycitynews.com |language=en-US}} On March 24, 2023, Cannataro was selected as a finalist under consideration for appointment to the New York Court of Appeals, this time for the position of chief judge following the retirement of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and the subsequent rejection of Justice Hector LaSalle's nomination to that seat by the New York State Senate.{{Cite web |last=Mellins |first=Sam |date=March 24, 2023 |title=New Chief Judge Shortlist Features Previously Excluded Liberal Judges |url=https://www.nysfocus.com/2023/03/24/new-chief-judge-shortlist/ |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=New York Focus |language=en}}

Personal life

Cannataro was born to parents who emigrated from Italy. He and his husband live in Washington Heights, Manhattan.{{Cite web |title=Biography of Justice Anthony Cannataro |url=http://ww2.nycourts.gov/courts/1jd/supctmanh/bio_Cannataro.shtml |access-date=May 25, 2021 |website=ww2.nycourts.gov}}