People v. Behan

37 Misc. 2d 911, 235 N.Y.S.2d 225, 1962 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2323
CourtNew York County Courts
DecidedNovember 9, 1962
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 37 Misc. 2d 911 (People v. Behan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York County Courts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Behan, 37 Misc. 2d 911, 235 N.Y.S.2d 225, 1962 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2323 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1962).

Opinion

Donald H. Mead, J.

Herman T. Stichman, Special Commissioner of the 'State of New York and Special Assistant Attorney-General of the State of New York, in separate applications, moves for an order of this court granting to the State of New York an inspection of the minutes taken before the Grand Jury of the County of Onondaga which resulted in the indictments found herein against the above-named defendants, and also of the minutes taken before the said Grand Jury in an investigation relating to the management and operations of the Onondaga County Jail and the Onondaga County Penitentiary entitled “ The People of the State of New York v. John Doe ”, and directing the stenographer of said Grand Jury to deliver the transcripts of said minutes to the State of New York without payment of any stenographic or other fees, and for such other and further relief as to this court may seem just and proper.

Inasmuch as the motions are substantially identical they will be decided and treated as one in this memorandum. It is alleged in the affidavits of Herman T. Stichman, Esq., verified on the 11th day of October, 1962, in support of the motions, that the affiant is a Special Commissioner of the State of New York duly appointed by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller under section 6 of the Executive Law to investigate the faithful execution of the laws and the relationship between corruption or misconduct and government, and to make recommendations for action to strengthen and improve practices and procedures relating to the faithful execution of the laws, with duties, powers and authorities as set forth in a copy of the Executive Order issued on September 8,1962, a copy of which is attached thereto as Exhibit A and made a part thereof. That he is also a Special Assistant Attorney-General of the State of New York, appointed by the [913]*913Attorney-General under section 63 (subd. 8) of the Executive Law on September 12, 1962. That subdivision provides in part that “ Whenever in his judgment the public interest requires it, the attorney-general may, with the approval of the governor, and when directed by the governor, shall, inquire into matters concerning the public peace, public safety and public justice.” That he has duly qualified under said appointments and has been and is now conducting the investigations with which he was charged by the Governor and the Attorney-General.

The affidavit is made in both capacities in support of the motions herein for an order granting the State of New York an inspection of the minutes of the Grand Jury which resulted in the indictments referred to herein and which relate in any manner to alleged misconduct by the public officials named therein and to the management and operations of the Onondaga County Jail and the Onondaga County Penitentiary.

Continuing, the moving affidavits thereupon briefly describe in substance the charges against the various defendants as contained in the several indictments hereinabove set forth in the respective motions. Attached to the affidavits, as Exhibit A ” thereof, is a copy of the Governor’s Executive Order made on September 8, 1962 in the following form:

STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER EXECUTIVE ORDER
By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of New York, I, nelson a. rockefeller, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby constitute Herman t. stichman as a Special Commissioner to investigate the faithful execution of the laws and the relationship between corruption or misconduct and government, and to make recommendations for action to strengthen and improve practices and procedures relating to the faithful execution of the laws, with the following duties, powers and authorities:
I
To investigate generally the relationship between misconduct or corruption in office by public officials and the faithful execution of the laws by units of government in the State.
II
To extend assistance to and receive assistance from public officers engaged in or responsible for the detention of persons charged with or convicted of crime, or engaged in or responsible for the investigation or the prosecution of crime or misconduct in office by public officials.
Ill
To examine into the relationship between the government of the State and local law enforcement or regulation or administration, with particular reference but not limited to the following problems:
[914]*9141. The existing powers of the Governor, of State agencies and of other persons and bodies with respect to local public officers concerned with the detention of persons charged with or convicted of crime or concerned with law enforcement or regulation of administration.
2. The extent to which the power of the State government may or should properly be modified in connection with the detention of persons charged with or convicted of crime or in connection with local law enforcement or regulation or administration.
3. The necessity or desirability of amendatory legislation, and to report on all of the foregoing to the Governor.
IV
Pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 8 of section 63 of the Executive Law, the Attorney-General of the State is hereby directed to inquire into the matters hereinabove set forth involving the public peace, public safety and public justice and is requested to do so by appointing the Special Commissioner as a Special Assistant Attorney-General and such counsel, deputies, officers and other persons as the Special Commissioner may require to accomplish the purpose of this Order and to fix their compensation.
V
The Special Commissioner hereby established and the Attorney General, in cooperation with the Special Commissioner, are hereby authorized and directed to exercise, for the accomplishment of the purposes of this order, all powers and authorities set forth in subdivision 8 of section 63 of the Executive Law, and are hereby authorized by me to exercise any power to administer oaths and examine witnesses under oath, to subpoena any person, books, papers or records which I may have or have the power to delegate by virtue of any of the provisions of the Executive Law.
VI
Every department, division, board, bureau and agency of the State shall provide to the Attorney-General and to the Special Commissioner every assistance, facility and cooperation which may be necessary or desirable for the accomplishment of the duties or purposes of the Attorney-General and the special commissioner under this order.
The Mayors or other chief executive officers of cities, the district attorneys of the counties, the sheriffs of the counties, and the commissioners or chiefs of police or persons having comparable titles or duties exercising supervision of police forces within the State are called upon to cooperate and make available every facility and assistance to the Attorney-General and the special commissioner in the performance of their duties under this order.
given under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this eighth day of September (L.

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Related

In re Carey
45 Misc. 3d 187 (New York Supreme Court, 2014)
In re Carey
68 A.D.2d 220 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1979)
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92 Misc. 2d 316 (New York Supreme Court, 1977)
In re City of Buffalo
57 A.D.2d 47 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1977)
People v. Segal
67 Misc. 2d 526 (Criminal Court of the City of New York, 1971)
People v. Di Napoli
265 N.E.2d 449 (New York Court of Appeals, 1970)
People v. Doe
47 Misc. 2d 975 (New York County Courts, 1965)
In re the Temporary State Commission of Investigation
47 Misc. 2d 11 (New York County Courts, 1965)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
37 Misc. 2d 911, 235 N.Y.S.2d 225, 1962 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2323, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-behan-nycountyct-1962.