New York, NY —

A mid-level appeals court has declared Governor Paterson's appointment of a Lieutenant Governor "unconstitutional". Karen DeWitt reports.

REPORTER: The court ruled that Paterson unlawfully appointed Richard Ravitch to be his lieutenant governor and ordered Ravitch immediately cease exercising any of the powers of the office of lieutenant governor.

The judges also ruled that section of law that the governor based his actions on - the public officers law - provides no authority for Paterson to have appointed Ravitch to the post.

Republican Senate Leader Dean Skelos said in a statement that the court upheld the position he's taken all along, that the governor acted recklessly and unconstitutionally when he put his own political interest ahead of the public interest to appoint a lieutenant governor. In Albany, I'm Karen DeWitt.

REPORTER: Governor Paterson is expected to appeal the case to the state's highest court.