Frustrated by what he has characterized as continued obstructionism by the Bloomberg administration, a federal judge on Wednesday appointed Robert M. Morgenthau as a special master who will oversee the city’s implementation of practices aimed at increasing the number of black and Hispanic firefighters.

The appointment of Mr. Morgenthau, who recently stepped down as district attorney of Manhattan after 35 years in office, can be seen as an effort by the judge, Nicholas G. Garaufis, to choose someone with the stature and will to tussle with city leaders.

To read more…