The New York Senate has confirmed Hon. Jonathan Lippman's appointment as the state's top judge.

Lippman, a 63-year-old state judge in Manhattan, replaces Hon. Judith Kaye, who had to retire from the chief-judge position last month because she reached the state's mandatory retirement age of 70.

Lippman will head the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court. He is currently presiding justice in the state Supreme Court's Appellate Division, 1st Department, in New York City.

For 11 years before being named to the appellate court in spring 2007, Lippman worked closely with Kaye as the state's chief administrative judge. He oversaw a $2 billion budget and 18,600 employees.

Lippman was one of seven candidates that a state judicial nominating commission put forth to Paterson as possible replacements for Kaye. Gov. David Paterson, who picked Lippman last month for the job, decried an apparent absence of diversity in the group of candidates. The list of candidates did not include any women.

Kaye was the first woman ever on the seven-member Court of Appeals, and was also the state's first female chief judge.

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, said Lippman "has demonstrated a commanding knowledge of the law and has shown himself to be among our state's finest jurists. His record of reforming our state's judicial system and the respect he has earned within his profession make him a remarkable choice to succeed Judge Kaye and continue the growth that began under her leadership."

The New York State Bar Association also praised Lippman.

President Bernice Leber said Lippman was a strong leader who "transformed our justice system and greatly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of New York's courts."