paterson is the first black governor in the history of the state of new york and the fourth black governor in the history of the united states (the first three being the reconstruction-era p. b. s. pinchback of louisiana, virginia's douglas wilder and massachusetts's deval patrick). the lieutenant governor's office remained vacant until september 22, 2009, when the new york court of appeals ruled in a 4–3 decision that paterson's appointment of richard ravitch was constitutional.