Kunstler v. Galligan

168 A.D.2d 146, 571 N.Y.S.2d 930, 1991 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 8513
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedJune 18, 1991
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 168 A.D.2d 146 (Kunstler v. Galligan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kunstler v. Galligan, 168 A.D.2d 146, 571 N.Y.S.2d 930, 1991 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 8513 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinions

OPINION OF THE COURT

Per Curiam.

On August 18, 1990, Mr. Yusef Salaam was convicted, after a jury trial of the crimes of rape in the first degree (Penal Law § 130.35 [1]), assault in the first degree (Penal Law § 120.10 [3]), robbery in the first degree (Penal Law § 160.15 [3]), riot in the first degree (Penal Law § 240.06), and assault in the second degree (Penal Law § 120.05 [2], [6]) (3 counts), in the Supreme Court, New York County (Thomas B. Galligan, J.). Subsequently, on September 11, 1990, Justice Galligan sentenced Mr. Salaam, consecutively on the designated felonies as a juvenile offender, to an indeterminate prison term of 5 to 10 years. All of the crimes of which Mr. Salaam was convicted arose out of a series of attacks, on April 19, 1989, in Central Park, upon a female jogger, several male joggers, and other persons.

Thereafter, in November 1990, William M. Kunstler, Esq., moved pursuant to CPL 440.10, to vacate Mr. Salaam’s conviction, on the ground that, during his trial, a juror read press accounts of that trial and informed his fellow jurors about them. Further, Mr. Kunstler submitted a supplemental affirmation, in support of the motion, requesting Justice Galligan to recuse himself from considering the motion.

The subject motion was one of a number of matters to be disposed of, on December 20, 1990, in Criminal Term, Part 59 courtroom, by Justice Galligan.

After the Clerk of Part 59 called the Mr. Salaam matter, Mr. Kunstler and the Assistant District Attorney noted their appearances, and Justice Galligan promptly informed Mr. [148]*148Kunstler that the motion was denied, no hearing would be directed on same, and a copy of the motion decision would be available at the end of the day.

This colloquy then took place between Mr. Kunstler and Justice Galligan:

"mr. kunstler: It is outrageous. You will not have an evidentiary hearing despite all the law that calls for it?
"the court: I will not hear oral argument. Call the next case.
"mr. kunstler: You have exhibited what your partisanship is. You shouldn’t be sitting in court. You are a disgrace to the bench.
"the court: Sir, I hold you in contempt of court.”

After being held in contempt, Mr. Kunstler continued to argue, as follows:

"mr. kunstler: You can hold me in anything you wish. I am outraged.
"the court: I am giving you an opportunity to be heard right now.
"mr. kunstler: I am saying this, judge. Every case in the world says you should hold a hearing in order to determine whether outside influences affected a juror. Every case there is. I submitted them to you.
"Even when a juror falls asleep, the Second Department has held there should be a hearing. And for you to deny it without a hearing. I think it is outrageous. You are violating every standard of fair play.
"the court: I am holding you in contempt of court. You are fined $250 or 30 days in jail”.

Subsequently, on December 20th, Justice Galligan issued a written decision denying the CPL 440.10 motion, as well as the request that he recuse himself from deciding that motion, and a written decision detailing the reasons for holding Mr. Kunstler in summary criminal contempt.

In March 1991, Mr. Kunstler (petitioner), by counsel, instituted, pursuant to CPLR article 78, a petition to annul the summary criminal contempt order of Justice Galligan (respondent Justice), Thereafter, a Justice of this court granted a stay, not on the merits, pending determination of the petition, and granted permission to argue orally.

The petitioner contends, in substance, that the order should be annulled, since his conduct did not justify a finding of [149]*149contempt, and if it did, he was not given an opportunity to be heard in defense or extenuation, before the respondent Justice imposed punishment.

Pursuant to Judiciary Law § 750 (A), a Justice or Judge of a court of record, such as respondent Justice, is given the power to punish a person for criminal contempt, who commits certain acts, including:

"1. Disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent behavior, committed during its sitting, in its immediate view and presence, and directly tending to interrupt its proceedings, or to impair the respect due to its authority. * * *
"3. Wilful disobedience to its lawful mandate.
"4. Resistance wilfully offered to its lawful mandate”.

Further, pursuant to Judiciary Law § 751 (1), contempts, such as those specified in the Judiciary Law § 750 (A) (1), (3) and (4), "committed in the immediate view and presence of the court, may be punished summarily”, by a fine of $1,000 or 30 days in jail or both, at the discretion of the court.

Additionally, Judiciary Law § 755 provides that "[w]here the offense is committed in the immediate view and presence of the court * * * it may be punished summarily. For that purpose, an order must be made by the court * * * stating the facts which constitute the offense and which bring the case within the provisions of this section, and plainly and specifically prescribing the punishment to be inflicted therefor”.

Part 604 of the rules of this court (22 NYCRR), deals with "Court Decorum”, and states in 22 NYCRR 604.2, in pertinent part:

"(a) Exercise of the summary contempt power.
"(1) The power of the court to punish summarily contempt committed in its immediate view and presence shall be exercised only in exceptional and necessitous circumstances, as follows:
"(i) Where the offending conduct either
"(a) disrupts or threatens to disrupt proceedings actually in progress; or
"(b) destroys or undermines or tends seriously to destroy or undermine the dignity and authority of the court in a manner and to the extent that it appears unlikely that the court will be able to continue to conduct its normal business in an appropriate way; and
"(ii) The court reasonably believes that a prompt summary [150]*150adjudication of contempt may aid in maintaining or restoring and maintaining proper order and decorum.
"(2) Wherever practical punishment should be determined and imposed at the time of the adjudication of contempt. * * *
"(3) Before summary adjudication of contempt the accused shall be given a reasonable opportunity to make a statement in his defense or in extenuation of his conduct.”

It is well-established law that justification for a court’s power to summarily punish a contempt, committed in its immediate view and presence, is based upon the need to preserve order in the courtroom, so that the court can conduct its normal business. In Cooke v United States (267 US 517, 534 [1925]) the United States Supreme Court stated "the court must act instantly to suppress disturbance or violence or physical obstruction or disrespect to the court when occurring in open court”. Further, the Court of Appeals, in Matter of Katz v Murtagh

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Harris v. Rowley
72 A.D.3d 1252 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2010)
Caruso v. Wetzel
33 A.D.3d 161 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2006)
Greenberg v. Starkey
20 A.D.3d 419 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2005)
O'Connell v. Taddeo
174 Misc. 2d 110 (New York Supreme Court, 1997)
Doyle v. Aison
216 A.D.2d 634 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1995)
In re Kunstler
194 A.D.2d 233 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1993)
Mitchell v. Wiggins
195 A.D.2d 1069 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1993)
Brostoff v. Berkman
591 N.E.2d 1175 (New York Court of Appeals, 1992)
Kunstler v. Galligan
587 N.E.2d 286 (New York Court of Appeals, 1991)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
168 A.D.2d 146, 571 N.Y.S.2d 930, 1991 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 8513, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kunstler-v-galligan-nyappdiv-1991.