NY court vacates restraining order for Lt. Gov.

(AP) - An appellate judge has overruled a decision that blocked Gov. David Paterson from appointing a lieutenantgovernor.
Paterson on Wednesday named Richard Ravitch as lieutenantgovernor. He was hoping to break a leadership logjam in the stateSenate.
The ruling by state Supreme Court Associate Justice LeonardAustin in Nassau County overturns a restraining order thatRepublicans had obtained earlier Thursday.
A separate hearing on whether Paterson can appoint a lieutenantgovernor is scheduled for Friday.
Paterson already swore in Ravitch on Wednesday night to try tohelp resolve a Senate standoff that had dragged on since June 8.The turmoil ended Thursday when the dissident Democrat who joinedRepublicans returned to the Democratic conference.