Latest news with #OfficeofCourtAdministration
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Woke NYC judges are cutting ‘dangerous' perps loose at an alarming rate
These are the worst — and wokest — judges in New York City when it comes to protecting the public from violent suspects. These criminal court jurists set violent offenders loose ahead of trial at an astounding rate — with some springing alleged perps more than 80% of the time, according to a Post analysis of pretrial detention data from the Office of Court Administration. The analysis looked at 96 judges who handled a minimum of 25 cases in the first six months of 2024 where the top charge at arraignment was a violent felony. Nearly all such cases are still bail-eligible, even after radical criminal-justice reforms were enacted by Albany lawmakers in 2019. One of the city's most egregious practitioners of this junk justice is Queens Criminal Court Judge Wanda Licitra, who only set bail five times and had no suspects held in pretrial detention in 34 violent felony cases spanning January to June 2024, the latest available data. Licitra even set loose a feces fiend accused of smashing poop into a straphanger's face on a subway platform — who cursed her out in court to boot. 'Judges like that, we call them judges who drink the Kool Aid, because instead of them focusing on the actual situation, they're drinking the Kool Aid of bail reform,' one veteran criminal defense attorney who has repeatedly gone before Licitra told The Post. Such jurists' 'broad ideological slide' toward opposing incarceration is endangering New Yorkers' lives, said Hannah E. Meyers, a fellow and director of policing and public safety at the Manhattan Institute. Many of these judges are 'letting out dangerous people even when they know those people are dangerous and they're failing to be responsible in those situations and safety of others,' she said. Judges have bemoaned their hands are tied when deciding to set bail, citing how New York is the only state where jurists only can weigh whether a person will return to court, with zero consideration for whether they're a public safety threat. Yet criminal defense attorney Thomas Keniff, who ran as a Republican against Alvin Bragg for Manhattan district attorney, stressed there are 'many' ways to justify holding a violent perp on bail. 'Even when you can't rely on the public safety criteria because of the dysfunctional laws in the state [to set bail], chances are you can get there some other way.' An OCA spokesperson said the administration does not comment on bail decisions, but said judges 'have discretion in making bail decisions in accordance with the law and based solely on an individualized assessment of a defendant's risk of flight.' None of the following judges responded to requests for comment. Judge Wanda Licitra, 65 Queens Criminal Court Freed 29 out of 34 accused violent felons, 85% Appointed by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2021, she has gained notoriety among prosecutors and defense attorneys alike for springing violent accused criminals. Last year, the ex-Legal Aid Society attorney cut loose at least two perps charged with first-degree assault with a weapon and second-degree robbery resulting in physical injury, respectively, without bail — only for the pair to be rearrested for violent felonies, according to OCA's pretrial data. 'She's letting them all out,' one longtime defense attorney said. In February 2022, Licitra caused a stink when she released Frank Abrokwa, 37, who was accused of assaulting a woman on the subway by pushing poo into the victim's face. Even though Abrokwa snarled at Licitra, 'F–k you, bitch' in her courtroom, Licitra let him go during an early proceeding. By September 2022, she also ordered the release of a 56-year-old man who was being held on Rikers Island due to his inability to pay a $500 bail, citing the jail's violent conditions. The man, who had bail set for allegedly violating an order of protection, had open cases for drunk driving and assault, according to New York Focus. Judge Valentina Morales, 46 Manhattan Criminal Court Freed without bail a migrant who allegedly slashed a man in 2023 Another de Blasio appointee, Morales has been nicknamed 'Judge Let-em-go' among law enforcement officials for her notorious leniency. Between January and June 2024, Morales let 83 alleged violent felons out of 101 walk without bail, including recidivist vagrant Eric Taylor, who already had been convicted on two felony charges and nearly two dozen misdemeanors. Taylor had been charged with bail-eligible felony assault for allegedly throwing a shopping bag filled with heavy objects at a 24-year-old woman walking to work in Union Square in January 2024, leaving her with a black eye, a cut above her eyebrow, and a concussion. Morales also previously set Venezuelan migrant Walter Almachi Leal free without bail in October 2023 after he allegedly slashed a man's arm with a broken beer bottle in Times Square. The alleged victim needed 20 stitches for his injuries. 'You take the oath as a judge to protect and serve,' one cop with nearly 20 years said. 'Clearly she's not when it comes to criminals.' Judge Robert Rosenthal, 63 Manhattan Criminal Court Sprung violent robber who went on sexual assault spree the next day Elected to Manhattan Civil Court in 2019 but assigned to criminal court, Rosenthal let perps go without bail in the first half of 2024 a staggering 67% of the time. Then, in January, the onetime de Blasio appointee made headlines after he cut loose on supervised release Jason Ayala, who had been charged with violent robbery charges. The very next day, Ayala, 37, allegedly went on a twisted sexual assault rampage, abusing a 12-year-old and 14-year-old as well as three women in the span of 30 minutes. The case is still pending. 'All of the arrests were for forcibly touching intimate parts and endangerment. He shouldn't have been out on our streets the next day doing that,' Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told The Post at the time. The mother of the 14-year-old victim was outraged by Rosenthal's record: 'It's concerning because it doesn't seem like the judge is for the innocent people — he's for the person doing the crime,' she said. Judge Marva Brown, 43 Manhattan Criminal Court Freed 54 out of 87 accused violent felons, 62% Brown has only been on the bench for 14 months, but in that short tenure has sprung at least 54 violent maniacs – a number of whom have reoffended. The ex-Legal Aid attorney, was elected to Brooklyn Civil Court in November 2023 but has overseen Manhattan criminal cases, infamously let loose Amira Hunter without bail after she was caught on camera bashing a subway cellist over the head with a metal water bottle in February 2024. Weeks later, Hunter was nabbed for allegedly shoplifting at Nordstrom in midtown. Earlier this year, she also sprang a subway nutter on a bail-eligible sexual abuse charge — only for the psycho to allegedly push an unsuspecting rider into a moving train at a Washington Heights station. 'You don't have to be a criminal justice expert to know that setting violent recidivist criminals loose on our streets puts New Yorkers in real danger,' MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber previously told The Post. Judge Eugene Bowen, 49 Bronx Criminal Court Sprung alleged gun-toting migrant squatter without bail Bowen, who was elected to Manhattan Civil Court in 2022 but is now assigned to Bronx criminal cases, sparked outrage in 2023 when he released two men who allegedly bashed a cop after the officer asked them to put out their cigarettes at a subway station — despite prosecutors asking for $10,000 cash bail. Bowen continued to cut accused violent felons loose in a staggering 87 out of 113 cases he oversaw between January and June 2024. In April 2024, the jurist let go on supervised release an accused gun-toting migrant, Hector Desousa-Villalta, who was one of six busted for allegedly squatting and dealing drugs out of a Norwood multifamily home. Desousa-Villalta had an open case linked to August 2023, when he allegedly shot a fellow migrant during an argument over a woman in Yonkers, police officials said. Bowen also let two other migrants walk without any restrictions ahead of their trial, one of whom was previously arrested in September 2023 and indicted for possession of a loaded firearm, police officials said. Additional reporting by Tina Moore
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
New Texas bill could unlock ‘mystery' of what happens to students in truancy court
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Newly filed legislation by a state senator could shore up the state's collection of truancy court information and provide lawmakers and education leaders with a clearer picture of how the civil penalty system is affecting students. State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, filed Senate Bill 1850 Tuesday. The bill would add numerous data related to truancy cases to be collected by the Office of Court Administration from justice of the peace and municipal courts where the cases are handled. Zaffirini's district stretches from Laredo to South Austin. Her legislation follows a KXAN investigation that found over 86,000 students were sent to court for truancy since 2016. Meanwhile, no state agency has been watching what ultimately happens to them in the process. State lawmakers reformed the truancy system in 2015 by shifting the repercussions from criminal to civil court. Back then, lawmakers and policy experts were concerned about the severity of using criminal charges on students who missed too much class. 12,000+ Texas kids sent to court for missing class, no one tracks what happens next Ten years later, it isn't clear how students are faring under the civil truancy regime, since nobody is monitoring outcomes across the state. But that could change with Zaffirini's bill, which followed a KXAN investigation of Texas truancy. KXAN filed over 200 requests to local courts and school districts to get an understanding of the scope of truancy cases and the variety of remedial orders judges issued – which range from tutorial hours to requiring a student to get a G.E.D. With no uniform standard for tracking that information, court responses left more questions than answers. Some courts keep track, some don't, some refused to say. KXAN also found school districts are sending special education students to court. Furthermore, since the pandemic the number of truancy cases has risen steadily, with 2025 on pace to have the highest number of cases filed since 2015. KXAN spoke with judges handling truancy conduct cases in Central Texas. We gained access to truancy court proceedings and watched numerous parents and their kids navigate the system. We also spoke with families affected by the truancy, including Rosa Yharte and her son Nathaniel Karle. Rosa explained how her family struggled with attendance after Nathaniel's dad was charged with a sex crime – but not yet jailed – and Nathaniel feared he might encounter him at school. Nathaniel's absences mounted and, in April 2024, a constable arrived on the family's doorstep to serve Nathaniel papers referring him to court for truancy. The entire ordeal put extreme stress on the family. Nathaniel was ultimately disenrolled from his Georgetown ISD high school and enrolled in a homeschool program. 'What about sending somebody out to the home to make sure the family is OK, to see what's going on in their situation? Instead of just OK – here's a paper, go to court,' Yharte said. The Office of Court Administration currently tracks basic information on truancy cases, showing the number of cases filed each year in counties and cities. Zaffirini's bill would add layers of data to give lawmakers, and the public, a clearer picture of how and where truancy cases occur. The bill would break down data by the district referring the student. KXAN found the number of students referred to courts varies widely from one district to the next and from year to year. For example, one Williamson County school district had nearly a thousand percent increase in truancy referrals in one year – from 38 in 2022 to 408 in 2023. KXAN had to request that data from a local court to find the increase. 'JPs don't drive the docket. The docket gets driven by the schools, and then it has to go through the county attorney before we actually get it on our desk,' said Williamson County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Judge Rhonda Redden previously said to KXAN. Zaffirini's bill would require OCA to publish the information online for the public. The data would break down truancy information demographically to show numbers by age, sex, race, eligibility for special education services, homelessness status and more. In addition, the bill would show how truancy case dismissal rates, reasons for dismissals, and how often different types of remedial orders are used. Texas Appleseed Senior Staff Attorney Renuka Rege said collecting more information will help the state better understand the risk factors facing students who are referred to truancy court. 'We know that kids are being referred to truancy court and then, unfortunately, oftentimes being ordered by the court to drop out of school and get their GED,' Rege said. 'I'm very curious to see what those numbers look like, and you know, which parts of the state might be doing it more, which groups of students might be more affected by this.' Paige Duggins-Clay, an attorney and legal analyst with the Intercultural Development Research Association, says there is no monitoring without statewide data on truancy court, which could lead to students and families ending up in court when they should not be. 'It makes sense to me that things are slipping through the cracks, and it makes sense to me that schools feel overwhelmed and frustrated with the challenge of getting young people to school,' Duggins-Clay said. 'We [have] got to support the staffing at schools to help do those interventions so they don't feel compelled to push the student into the court system and sort of pass the buck.' State records show the truancy system has been misused. Last February, several advocacy organizations, including Disability Rights Texas and Texas Appleseed, filed a complaint with the Texas Education Agency against Corpus Christi ISD, alleging the district violated students' civil rights. The groups found CCISD used truancy referrals far more often than neighboring districts, and 13% of the kids sent to court were in special education programs, according to a news release. A TEA investigation later confirmed the allegations, according to Disability Rights. In response, CCISD said it made a number of revisions to its truancy policy. 'It's kind of a mystery that once these students are referred to court, what is the court actually doing, what action is the court taking, and whether this is helping students,' Rege said. 'I think that it could get bipartisan support because it's simply collecting more information. We're just trying to see the data around what's happening, to find out if what we're doing is effective or not.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NY prosecutors, defense attorneys spar over Gov. Hochul proposal to streamline discovery reform
Prosecutors and defense attorneys squared off outside the courtroom Friday over Gov. Hochul's proposal to close so-called loopholes in discovery laws, a criminal justice reform initiative being blamed for an increase in crime. The discovery reform law that went into effect in 2019 was designed to give defense attorneys quicker access to evidence against their clients. But prosecutors said the strict deadlines and technicalities have caused too many cases to be dismissed, putting dangerous criminals back on the streets. 'Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority,' Hochul said during a news conference with district attorneys from across the state. 'My common sense proposal to streamline New York's discovery laws will close fatal loopholes that have delayed trials and led to cases being thrown out on minor technicalities, which will ultimately help crack down on recidivism and provide justice for victims.' Hochul first proposed the changes in her state of the state address two weeks ago, when she said the law led to the release of repeat offenders. A day earlier, Hochul's push for change was backed by NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Backers of Hochul's proposal said more than half of criminal cases in New York City are forced to be dismissed, often because prosecutors say they are unable to hand over the evidence in time. Before 2019, 42% of cases were dismissed. In 2023, 62% of cases had to be let go, according to the Office of Court Administration. 'These unintended consequences have led to the dismissal or reduction in charges in thousands of felony and misdemeanor cases, especially large quantities of petit larcenies, quality of life crimes, DWIs, and assault cases,' said Staten Island DA Michael McMahon, president of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York. But lawyers behind the initial push for reform said prosecutors and the governor were using fear mongering tactics to scare the public into turning back the clock. Discovery reform has had no discernible impact on recidivism or crime rates,' the Legal Aid Society said in a statement. 'The mental gymnastics performed by prosecutors and others to undermine this successful reform have nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with restoring a system that granted DAs an immense advantage — one they benefited from for decades.' Public defenders said the law was enacted to enhance fairness in the legal justice system, and would return New York to an era of coerced pleas, wrongful convictions, and pre-trial delays. 'Sharing evidence with people accused of crimes does not contribute to a cycle of re-arrest or make our communities unsafe,' the Brooklyn Defenders said in a statement. 'Instead of repealing a statute that works, lawmakers should focus on efforts that actually make our communities safer: resources.' The discovery law grew out of a case involving Kalief Browder, who spent three years in jail on Rikers Island awaiting a trial on charges that he stole a backpack in the Bronx. He could not afford the $3,000 bail. Browder spent most of that time in solitary confinement before the charges were eventually dropped. In 2015, two years after his relief, Browder, 22, committed suicide.
Politico
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Politico
The push to change discovery law gathers steam
DISCOVERY CHANNEL: Add the NYPD commissioner to the list of high-ranking people looking to make changes to the state's discovery law this year. Commissioner Jessica Tisch today joined the chorus of voices demanding reforms as she embraced Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal during her 'State of the NYPD' address. Mayor Eric Adams has emphasized the need to change the discovery process. And the state's district attorneys association separately voted to endorse Hochul's discovery proposal this morning. The 'proposed change to the discovery law will remove onerous restrictions and irreverent technicalities that cause far too many cases to be needlessly dismissed, and allow dangerous offenders to avoid accountability under the law,' Tisch said earlier today. At issue is a 2019 reform to the way discovery worked in the state's criminal courts. Lawmakers that year enacted requirements that prosecutors share the evidence they have with defense attorneys along a strict timeline. The changes were part of the state's sweeping reforms to bail and other criminal justice measures that year, when progressive policies were all the rage in Albany. The move on discovery was an effort to put an end to the practice of having those accused of petty crimes sit languishing in jails like Rikers Island, where Kalief Browder infamously spent three years awaiting trial after being arrested at 16 for allegedly stealing a backpack. He took his own life after being released. But the 2019 changes mean more than half of criminal cases in New York City are forced to be dismissed, often because prosecutors say they are unable to hand over the evidence in time. (Prior to discovery reforms, 42 percent of cases were dismissed. In 2023, 62 percent of cases had to be scrapped, according to the Office of Court Administration.) While the state's bail laws seem unlikely to be tweaked further this year — Hochul and the state Legislature have not indicated any desire to do so — district attorneys, law enforcement and the governor are aligned on discovery. On the other side of the debate, the Legal Aid Society, Citizen Action of New York, the Bronx Defenders and other advocacy groups are hoping to spend this year's session playing defense to keep the discovery changes untouched. They've already formed a coalition — the Alliance to Protect Kalief's Law — to that end. Hochul's budget this year includes a slew of changes to discovery law, including limiting the material prosecutors are required to turn over to defense attorneys to only evidence prosecutors deem relevant to the charges in the case. 'Governor Hochul wants to take further steps to stop the rinse-and-repeat cycle of offenders being released without consequences, which is why she has proposed closing fatal loopholes in the State's discovery laws that have delayed trials and led to cases being thrown out on minor technicalities,' Hochul spokesperson Sam Spokony told Playbook in a statement. 'Our Administration's proposal is a common sense step to protect victims, hold perpetrators accountable, and protect the right to a fair and speedy trial.' While Legal Aid and others fight Hochul's changes, the group isn't opposed to all changes to discovery. A separate proposal by state Sen. Zellnor Myrie and Assemblymember Micah Lasher, which would allow prosecutors direct access to NYPD databases containing body worn camera footage, is endorsed by both criminal justice advocates and the district attorneys. 'The very clear difference is that Senator Myrie's bill would not in any way limit the scope of the discovery required to be disclosed and would prevent the police from hiding evidence,' said Kalle Condliffe, a supervising attorney with Legal Aid. 'Whereas the proposals on the table from the governor change the standards and definition of what prosecutors are required to disclose, to the extent that prosecutors would be permitted to pick and choose which items they believe are relevant and which they don't.' — Jason Beeferman From The White House CONGESTION PRICING: President Donald Trump is considering ending federal approval of the controversial congestion pricing toll program — a move that would halt it, according to three people familiar with the discussions, POLITICO reports. Trump spoke with Hochul recently about the program and the two had a phone conversation this morning. Rescinding approval for congestion pricing would likely trigger a lawsuit from state officials and raise questions over how the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be able to bolster its crumbling infrastructure. GOP lawmakers have discussed linking federal aid for the MTA to requiring a forensic audit of the authority. 'America's economy relies on New York City, and New York City relies on public transit — that's why Governor Hochul will always advocate for funding the commuter rail, subways and buses that fuel the economic growth of the greatest city in the world,' Hochul spokesperson Avi Small said. A White House spokesperson declined to comment. The $9 tolls have been in place since Jan. 5 and New York officials want to leverage the revenue to borrow $15 billion to shore up mass transit systems in the region. — Nick Reisman From City Hall ADAMS' RAUCOUS SPEECH: Hobbled politically, legally and physically, Adams reemerged today with a clear message: he's not resigning, and don't count him out for reelection either, POLITICO reports. 'Who started the stupid rumor that I was stepping down on Friday? Are you out of your mind?' he said, pointing his finger at reporters during an interfaith breakfast. 'How do you print a rumor that I'm resigning on Friday but don't print the facts that we had more jobs in the city's history on that same day?' Adams' speech at the event in Midtown Manhattan marked his first public appearance in seven days, a period when City Hall said he would be attending to health issues. His attorney Alex Spiro, and City Hall representatives, denied rumors of a pending resignation on Wednesday, as news broke that President Donald Trump is considering directing his Department of Justice to drop criminal charges against the mayor. Adams faces a difficult path to reelection, so in a campaign style speech, Adams described his difficult upbringing — raised in poverty and bullied in school — as proof that he can handle the criticisms that come with being mayor. — Jeff Coltin From the Capitol HOCHUL-SCHUMER CALL: Hochul joined a host of other Democratic governors for a call with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Wednesday night, where the states' chief executives urged Schumer to push back against Trump. The lawmakers discussed Trump's federal funding freeze and pressed Schumer to get his conference to stand united and oppose the president's nominations. Read the full story by POLITICO's Shia Kapos here. EGG MONEY: The state is shelling out about $20 million to renovate The Egg Performing Arts Center, the startlingly bowl-shaped building visible from I-787 approaching Albany that lies just steps away from the Capitol. The venue was the site of Hochul's State of the State speech earlier this month, a departure from the previous tradition of delivering the much-hyped speech from the Assembly chambers. The state wants to replace The Egg's seating, carpeting and install a 'fully LED automated system capable of supporting complex productions.' They're also making the venue more accessible. The project will start in July, with an expected completion date of early 2026. — Jason Beeferman IN OTHER NEWS — MORE MONEY, PLEASE?: Gov. Kathy Hochul is asking the Legislature to approve $90 million in new funding for an AI supercomputer center, even though the existing $275 million for the project remains unspent. (Bloomberg Government) — NYVRA BACK: A mid-level appellate court reversed an Orange County decision that had concluded the state's new Voting Right Act was unconstitutional. (Election Law Blog) — STREET FOOD RETREAT: Many of the city's food cart vendors weren't on the street this week as they fear they are vulnerable to deportation under Trump's administration. (THE CITY) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
