ALBANY - Jonathan Lippman, the state's chief administrative judge for the past 11 years, will become presiding justice on a major state appeals court based in Manhattan, Gov. Eliot Spitzer said Wednesday.

As presiding justice of the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court's First Judicial Department, Lippman will be paid $147,600 a year, the same salary he's been paid as chief administrative judge.

Lippman has been in charge of keeping the state courts running smoothly on a day-to-day basis and a key lieutenant to state Chief Judge Judith Kaye. The two have been leading a campaign to get a pay raise for state judges, who haven't had a salary boost since 1999.

Any raise would have to be approved by the state Legislature.

“I have no doubt that Justice Lippman will continue to serve New Yorkers with great distinction in this new role,” said Spitzer in announcing the appointment.

“I could not be more flattered by the confidence shown in me by this governor, for whom I have such great respect,” said Lippman in a statement issued by Spitzer's office. “To me, there could be no greater privilege than to serve as the presiding justice of this pre-eminent appellate court.”

There are four Appellate Division courts in the state. Only the seven-member state Court of Appeals, headed by Kaye, is above them.

The appointment for Lippman, the longest serving chief administrative judge in the state's history, adds to his judicial resume at a key time. Kaye must step down at the end of 2008, the year in which she reaches the court's mandatory retirement age of 70. Lippman, a New York University Law School graduate, is considered a possible successor.