Albany Watch

Gov. David Paterson just announced he is hiring Joseph Fisch as New York’s inspector general, a permanent replacement for Kristine Hamann, an appointee of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer who unceremoniously left early this month. (Her last news release and report were issued April 3, and the next release was issued by Acting Inspector General Dennis Martin on April 11.)

Fisch, who is from Larchmont, Westchester County, starts May 12 and will earn $155,200 a year. His appointment does not require Senate confirmation.

Fisch is a state Supreme Court justice in the Bronx, a position he was appointed to in 2003. He was a Court of Claims justice from 1990 until 2003. 

“Judge Fisch is one of New York’s top jurists and I couldn’t be more pleased that a leader of his caliber has decided to take on such a critical watchdog role,” Paterson said in a statement.

Fisch is a 1956 Harvard Law School graduate who served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1958. He began his legal career in 1959 at the New York State Commission of Investigation and was deputy commissioner when he left 18 years later. He has also worked as first assistant district attorney, chief assistant DA and executive assistant DA in Queens County, and as deputy DA in Kings County. Fisch has held positions with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the state Education Department.

The IG’s office investigates allegations of corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest and abuse involving state agencies, commissions and authorities headed by gubernatorial appointees.