Opinion
11-10-2016
The PEOPLE of the State of New York ex rel. Richie STOKES, Petitioner–Appellant, v. NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF PAROLE and Ms. Dolce, Superintendent, Orleans Correctional Facility, Respondents–Respondents.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Alan Williams of Counsel), for petitioner-appellant. Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Kate H. Nepveu of Counsel), for respondents-respondents.
Appeal from a judgment (denominated order) of the Supreme Court, Orleans County (James P. Punch, A.J.), entered November 19, 2014 in a habeas corpus proceeding. The judgment dismissed the petition.
The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Alan Williams of Counsel), for petitioner-appellant.
Eric T. Schneiderman, Attorney General, Albany (Kate H. Nepveu of Counsel), for respondents-respondents.
MEMORANDUM:Petitioner appeals from a judgment dismissing his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The appeal has been rendered moot by petitioner's release from custody upon reaching his maximum expiration date (see People ex rel. Smith v. Cully, 112 A.D.3d 1316, 1317, 976 N.Y.S.2d 906, lv. denied 22 N.Y.3d 864, 2014 WL 1281944 ; People ex rel. Reynolds v. Artus, 103 A.D.3d 1208, 1208–1209, 958 N.Y.S.2d 912 ; People ex rel. Baron v. New York State Dept. of Corr., 94 A.D.3d 1410, 1410, 942 N.Y.S.2d 392, lv. denied 19 N.Y.3d 807, 2012 WL 2401232 ), and the exception to the mootness doctrine does not apply (see Reynolds, 103 A.D.3d at 1209, 958 N.Y.S.2d 912 ; Baron, 94 A.D.3d at 1410, 942 N.Y.S.2d 392 ; see generally Matter of Hearst Corp. v. Clyne, 50 N.Y.2d 707, 714–715, 431 N.Y.S.2d 400, 409 N.E.2d 876 ). While this Court has the power to convert the habeas corpus proceeding into a CPLR article 78 proceeding, we decline to do so under the circumstances of this case (see People ex rel. Walker v. Dolce, 125 A.D.3d 1305, 1305, 3 N.Y.S.3d 485, lv. denied 25 N.Y.3d 910, 2015 WL 3605186 ; People ex rel. Green v. Smith, 119 A.D.3d 1451, 1452, 989 N.Y.S.2d 416 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that said appeal is unanimously dismissed without costs.
CENTRA, J.P., PERADOTTO, DeJOSEPH, NEMOYER, and CURRAN, JJ., concur.