The New York state legislature voted nearly unanimously Tuesday to appoint Barbara Underwood to serve as the state’s attorney general, making her the first woman to hold the position.
Underwood, who has served as solicitor general for over a decade, became the acting attorney general in May after Eric Schneiderman abruptly resigned. Schneiderman, once a prominent figure in the #MeToo movement for his willingness to go after disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein, announced his resignation less than 24 hours after The New Yorker reported he had allegedly abused four women.
The details of Schneiderman’s downfall led many state officials to call for a woman to be his replacement. “After over 240 years of men as our leading law enforcement officer, it is clear that a women’s voice in the Attorney General’s office is desperately needed at this time,” State Senator David Carlucci (D-Clarkstown) told Politico.
Underwood, who has argued 20 cases before the United States Supreme Court and clerked for the late Justice Thurgood Marshall, has already said that she will not seek election in November. State Republicans and Democrats are still settling on nominees for the post.
