NEW YORK, NY July 09, 2009 —Governor Paterson has appointed a lieutenant governor to help end the month long stalemate in the Senate. The move set off a storm of criticism, praise, and court action. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.

REPORTER: Governor Paterson speaking on statewide radio and television said he and his lawyers have found a section of the constitution that he believes empowers him to select a new Lieutenant Governor when there's a vacancy. He says he made the surprising move after weeks of fruitless attempts to get senators to agree to end their quarel.

PATERSON: For the last four weeks we have witnessed a painful and all to often embarrassing spectacle of paralysis that has become the New York State Senate.

REPORTER: The Republican dominated coalition in the Senate has promised to sue. In Albany, I'm Karen DeWitt.

REPORTER: That promise has come true. Republicans say they've secured a court order suspending Governor Paterson's plan to appoint a lieutenant governor to preside over the gridlocked New York Senate.