Opinion
2012-11-9
In the Matter of John DOE, Petitioner–Respondent, v. NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT, Respondent–Appellant.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Kathleen M. Treasure of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant. Zimmerman Law Office, Syracuse (Aaron Mark Zimmerman of Counsel), for Petitioner–Respondent.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Kathleen M. Treasure of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant. Zimmerman Law Office, Syracuse (Aaron Mark Zimmerman of Counsel), for Petitioner–Respondent.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., PERADOTTO, CARNI, LINDLEY, AND MARTOCHE, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking, inter alia, a writ of prohibition barring respondent from investigating and disciplining him for alleged acts of judicial misconduct on the ground that respondent lacks subject matter jurisdiction ( seeCPLR 7803[2] ). Respondent answered and, in its first objection in point of law, sought dismissal of the petition on the grounds that petitioner had not established a clear right to prohibition and had an adequate remedy at law inasmuch as respondent's determination is directly appealable to the Court of Appeals as of right. Based upon respondent's first objection in point of law, Supreme Court, inter alia, dismissed the petition (prior judgment). Petitioner thereafter moved for leave to renew and reargue regarding the prior judgment ( seeCPLR 2221). The court granted leave to renew and reargue, reversed the prior judgment and ordered that the parties conduct discovery. We reverse and reinstate the prior judgment that, inter alia, dismissed the petition.
Even assuming, arguendo, that the court properly granted leave to renew and reargue regarding the prior judgment, we conclude that the court erred in reversing the prior judgment upon renewal/reargument. “Prohibition will not ordinarily be warranted where the grievance can be adequately addressed by alternative proceedings at law or in equity, such as by motion, appeal, or other applications” ( Matter of Feldman v. Marcus, 23 A.D.3d 559, 560, 806 N.Y.S.2d 620,lv. denied7 N.Y.3d 703, 819 N.Y.S.2d 869, 853 N.E.2d 240;see Matter of Town of Huntington v. New York State Div. of Human Rights, 82 N.Y.2d 783, 786, 604 N.Y.S.2d 541, 624 N.E.2d 678;Matter of Eberhardt v. City of Yonkers, 305 A.D.2d 501, 502, 759 N.Y.S.2d 542). Here, petitioner has an adequate remedy at law because he is entitled to appeal as of right to the Court of Appeals any determination of respondent ( seeN.Y. Constitution, art. VI, § 22[a], [d]; Judiciary Law § 44[7], [9]; see generally Matter of Gilpatric [State Commn. on Jud. Conduct], 13 N.Y.3d 586, 589, 896 N.Y.S.2d 280, 923 N.E.2d 563), and thus petitioner is not entitled to prohibition ( see Matter of Molea v. Marasco, 64 N.Y.2d 718, 720, 485 N.Y.S.2d 738, 475 N.E.2d 109;Matter of Arcuri v. Kirk, 231 A.D.2d 962, 964, 647 N.Y.S.2d 644). Moreover, prohibition is available only when a court or quasi-judicial body exceeds its jurisdiction in a manner that implicates the legality of the proceeding itself ( see Matter of Rush v. Mordue, 68 N.Y.2d 348, 353, 509 N.Y.S.2d 493, 502 N.E.2d 170;Matter of State of New York v. King, 36 N.Y.2d 59, 64, 364 N.Y.S.2d 879, 324 N.E.2d 351), which is not the case here. Indeed, respondent has jurisdiction to investigate and discipline petitioner for the alleged judicial misconduct ( see generally Gilpatric, 13 N.Y.3d at 588–590, 896 N.Y.S.2d 280, 923 N.E.2d 563).
In light of our determination, we need not reach respondent's remaining contentions.
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs, the judgment entered May 17, 2011 is reinstated and the petition is thereby dismissed.