Brooklyn Democratic Party boss and Assemblyman Vito Lopez is ramping up pressure on Gov. Paterson to appoint a judge with little experience to a coveted appellate position, sources said.
Lopez (D-Brooklyn) is pushing for Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jack Battaglia, 62, to be named to one of three open spots on the Appellate Division Second Department, according to sources.
Battaglia’s sister, City Planning Commissioner Angela Battaglia, is Lopez’s longtime live-in girlfriend.
Lopez denied making calls on behalf of any single candidate for the $144,000 a year job.
“I’ve been fighting [so that someone from] Brooklyn gets a seat,” he insisted.