"New York today mourns the death of Chief Judge Lawrence Cooke, the twentieth Chief Judge of our State Court of Appeals. Chief Judge Cooke served this State with distinction, with dignity and intelligent good humor, and he will be sorely missed.

"During his tenure on the Court of Appeals, he devoted himself tirelessly to the improvement of judicial administration, both in New York and throughout the country. In recent years, I was honored to have Judge Cooke head up the State's Judicial Screening Committee, a task he performed with his customary skill.

"Judge Cooke was a great new York who furthered the great cause of justice throughout his long and distinguished career, and all New Yorkshire are saddened by his passing."