NEW YORK, NY February 08, 2007 —Governor Spitzer wants New York’s highest-ranked judge to keep her job, right up until state law forces her out for being too old. WNYC’s Fred Mogul has more.

Judith Kaye became the first woman to sit on the Court of Appeals in 1983 and was elevated to Chief Judge a decade later. Her current 14-year term ends next month. If confirmed by the state senate, she would serve less than 2 years, before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Kaye is widely regarded as even-handed in administering the Court of Appeals. She is also considered a progressive in many areas.

She has vocally called for reforming the election of lower court judges. And last year, in a strongly-worded dissent, Kaye criticized the majority for refusing to legally recognize gay unions, saying the court had retreated from a “proud tradition” of upholding equal rights. For WNYC, I’m Fred Mogul.