People ex rel. Sweeney v. Smith

50 A.D.2d 722, 375 N.Y.S.2d 69, 1975 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 12604

Opinion

— Judgment unanimously reversed and a new parole revocation hearing granted. Memorandum: Petitioner appeals from a judgment dismissing a writ of habeas corpus in which he sought to challenge the validity of his parole revocation. Petitioner was charged with a number of parole violations, some of which he admitted and others which he denied. At the parole board hearing, petitioner’s parole was revoked and he was remanded to the Attica Correctional Facility. Due process requires that prior to parole revocation a parolee be given a hearing before a "neutral and detached” board (Morrissey v Brewer, 408 US 471). The presence on the board of the former sheriff who originally arrested petitioner and who, it appears without contradiction, was a party to civil litigation instituted by petitioner, effectively destroyed that neutrality so that due process mandates another hearing. We do not pass on the merits of whether the parole violations were sufficient to commit petitioner. (Appeal from judgment of Wyoming County Court dismissing writ of habeas corpus.) Present — Marsh, P. J., Moule, Cardamone, Goldman and Witmer, JJ.