NEW YORK, NY July 09, 2009 —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.

GOP Senate spokesman John McArdle says that a judge in Nassau County issued the order overnight. He says it temporarily suspends Paterson's plan to have Richard Ravitch provide a tie-breaking vote and preside over the Senate.

A spokeswoman for the Governor says the court order was received late last night. She says Richard Ravitch was sworn in and all paperwork was filed with the Secretary of State before the court order.