In the space of a few short hours on Monday evening, Eric Schneiderman went from being known as one of the nation’s most progressive and influential attorneys general to being cast as a drunken, abusive monster who terrorized women in his personal life even as he publicly advocated women’s rights.

The immediate question before New Yorkers is who takes over what has become one of the key law enforcement posts in the country. What can’t happen is for lawmakers in Albany to concoct a back-room deal to install someone they think will further their political games rather than the cause of justice.

Until voters have a chance to pick a new attorney general in the fall, the clear choice is Barbara Underwood, the state’s solicitor general, who becomes acting attorney general upon Mr. Schneiderman’s formal resignation Tuesday afternoon. Ms. Underwood has a stellar reputation and extensive experience as a litigator, and would carry on the work of the office until the election.

There are other questions — about Mr. Schneiderman himself, about domestic violence and law enforcement, about power and gender in general — for us all to consider. Mr. Schneiderman’s fall was so fast, the allegations against him so appalling and the depth of his apparent hypocrisy so astounding that the lesson will take some time to sort out. But it is already clear that his betrayal operates on at least three levels.