Zack Fink reports for Spectrum News that Albany Democrats are expanding the size of their Senate Judiciary Committee just before it considers the controversial nomination of Hector LaSalle. Gov. Kathy Hochul nominated LaSalle last month as New York state’s chief judge. But some Democrats immediately protested, saying he wrote bad decisions on abortion, unions, and other issues. And while Democrats plan to give LaSalle a hearing, enough Democrats have already come out with 'no' votes to block the nomination. There has been talk of Republicans voting for the LaSalle nomination with some Democrats giving them a majority. But adding four new members to the committee may change some of those predictions. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, though, gave another reason for the four new additions, saying, “The interest in serving on this committee has grown exponentially.... There are a lot of members who want to be a part of of it, and so we adjusted it. Again, not as much as it was in 2018, but now it is more reflective of the people who have a desire to be on it. People who wanted to return to it." Republicans are saying they are eager for a hearing with Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt saying, “Our conference believes he should get a fair hearing.... Members should not come out before they have even had a chance to hear from him, talk to him, and say I’m not voting for him. Full stop.” Read the full story at Spectrum News.