ALBANY – Governor David A. Paterson has appointed local Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth A. Garry to the New York State Appellate Division.

Garry was one of five supreme court justices appointed Feb. 5. The governor’s office said the appointments “dramatized” Paterson’s “intentions to enhance diversity on the state benches.” Of the five appointed judges, two are black and two others are openly gay – including Garry.

“I am proud to appoint and nominate such a talented group of individuals to serve on our courts. Their experience and dedication will be a tremendous addition to New York’s highly accomplished and respected courts,” said Paterson.

“I am greatly honored to have been selected. The opportunity to serve with the distinguished jurists of this court is simply spectacular,” said Garry.

The appellate courts establish the precedent of law that lower level trial courts follow and its jurisdiction covers 28 counties in upstate New York, including the 10 counties that encompass the Sixth Judicial District, of which Chenango County is a part. Garry is one of two justices from the district currently appointed to the appellate division, the other being Supreme Court Justice Robert Rose from Binghamton.

Garry was the final appointment to the 12-member court, which typically hears appeals in panels of five judges per case.

The appeals court spans the entire scope of New York State law. It is most often the last court to hear an appeal, as the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, only hears about 100 cases annually, explained Garry.

Garry thanked many for her success, but singled out her mentor, retired Supreme Court Justice Irad S. Ingraham. Garry clerked for the judge after graduating from Albany Law School in 1990 when he still sat on the bench. Ingraham was also Garry’s campaign manager in her race for supreme court justice in 2006.