Original sentence: After a month-long deadlock in the State Senate, Paterson appointed Richard Ravitch as Lieutenant Governor, but the appointment was considered unconstitutional and invalid by New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Ravitch was served with a restraining order which blocks him from exercising the duties of the office, and the case was taken to the New York Supreme Court.LaMarca issued an injunction which bars Ravitch from Carrying out any duties of the office, and recognized Acting Lt.Malcolm Smith as the current next-in-line to succession.On July 21, Justice William R
Edited sentence: After a month-long deadlock in the State Senate, Paterson appointed Richard Ravitch as Lieutenant Governor, but the appointment was considered unconstitutional and invalid by New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.After a restraining order and its vacation, and a preliminary injunction and its [[Stay of execution|stay], on July 30, a four-judge panel of the Appellate Division ruled that Ravitch "can continue serving as Lieutenant Governor pending a legal challenge over his appointment - but he cannot preside over the State Senate