Cynthia Nixon Joins New York Judicial Selection Committee Amid Criticism

Progressive activist and actress Cynthia Nixon has joined the committee responsible for selecting New York’s top judges, as reported by the New York Post. Nixon, a democratic socialist who previously ran for governor in 2018, has been appointed to a four-year term on the Commission on Judicial Nomination. This panel evaluates candidates for the state Court of Appeals. The governor can only choose nominees approved by the commission.

Some Republican lawmakers have voiced opposition to Nixon’s appointment by Chief Judge Rowan Wilson. They argue that appointing a celebrity activist without a law degree sends a political message. Her term is set to end on April 30, 2030.

“I’m disappointed, but not surprised that we have a radical progressive actress without a law degree selecting judges in the state of New York,” said Anthony Palumbo, State Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member.

Nixon’s biography on the New York State website highlights that she started acting at the age of 12 and has been in the industry for nearly five decades. Her political activism focuses on issues such as abortion access, public school funding, LGBTQ equality, and breast cancer awareness. During her gubernatorial campaign, she emphasized economic, racial, and gender equality.

Nixon is renowned for her role as Miranda Hobbes, a lawyer in the HBO series “Sex and the City,” and has appeared in other shows like “The Gilded Age.” Although most commission members are lawyers or government officials, a law degree is not mandatory.

The commission plays a crucial role in state governance. Its objective is to ensure that judges on New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, represent the state’s diversity and are among the most qualified. The Constitution mandates that the Governor selects Judges of the Court of Appeals only from the commission’s nominees.

“The New York legal system continues to make a parody of itself,” wrote legal analyst Jonathan Turley, “Cynthia Nixon, who played a lawyer on HBO’s Sex and the City, has been appointed by New York Chief Judge Rowan Wilson to screen and recommend candidates to serve on the state of New York’s highest court.”

Nixon lost the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary by a wide margin to then-Governor Andrew Cuomo. During her campaign, she embraced the democratic socialist label. She stated that if believing in healthcare, housing, and education as basic rights makes her a democratic socialist, she accepts that label.

Last year, Nixon expressed strong support for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after his Democratic primary win. Her representatives did not respond immediately to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.