Paterson Headed To State Appeals Court

Governor David Paterson says appointed Lt. Governor Richard Ravitch won't immediately preside over a special Senate session.

Republicans secured a court order suspending the appointment late Wednesday.

Paterson says he's headed to court, too- state appeals court to take on the GOP contention.

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

The Senate has been gridlocked since a June 8 coup by a Republican-dominated coalition over the Democratic conference that thought it won the majority. 

The governor's office did not immediately return a call for comment.

Ravitch says he was sworn in at 8 p.m. Wednesday, hours after Paterson made the surprise appointment long thought to be constitutionally prohibited.