FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 22, 2014

Former Court of Appeals Judge Howard Levine Named Hearing Officer in Kellner Appeal


Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced that former Court of Appeals Judge Howard Levine has been designated to serve as an impartial hearing officer to conduct a hearing and to examine the findings of the Assembly Ethics and Guidance Committee regarding Assemblymember Micah Kellner and the subsequent sanctions imposed by the Assembly.

The hearing is being conducted at the request of Assemblymember Kellner in accordance with the Assembly's rules. The rules and manner of the proceedings will be coordinated and determined by the hearing officer and counsels.

Levine is senior counsel to Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna where he practices in the areas of arbitration, mediation and appellate and commercial litigation. Prior to joining Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna, Levine had a distinguished career in the New York State court system, serving as an associate judge on the State Court of Appeals, an associate justice of the Supreme Court Appellate Division, State Supreme Court justice and Schenectady County Family Court judge. He also served as district attorney of Schenectady County.

He is a member of the American Bar Association, American Law Institute, New York State Bar Association and Schenectady County Bar Association.

He earned undergraduate and law degrees from Yale University.