People v. Hinson

110 Misc. 2d 541, 441 N.Y.S.2d 882, 1981 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3121
CourtNew York District Court
DecidedJuly 17, 1981
StatusPublished

This text of 110 Misc. 2d 541 (People v. Hinson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York District Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Hinson, 110 Misc. 2d 541, 441 N.Y.S.2d 882, 1981 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3121 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1981).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Harold Fertig, J.

The defendants herein are separately charged with various crimes. They have all made separate motions which seek amongst other relief to dismiss the informations presently pending against them upon the ground that their right to a speedy trial, pursuant to CPL 30.30 has been Violated. Since the circumstances surrounding their prosecutions are similar and since all are represented by Legal Aid, the court has elected to decide all their motions in this decision.

On March 5,1981, the defendant David A. Hinson made a motion returnable March 12, 1981, requesting the court pursuant to CPL 170.30, to dismiss the information against the defendant on the ground that defendant’s right to a speedy trial had been violated pursuant to CPL 30.30. In addition, the defendant, as part of that motion, moved for other omnibus relief, including the suppression of certain evidence and for discovery of sundry information.

This motion was subsequently followed by similar motions, from the remaining defendants. The motion of defendant Leonard Crider was returnable on March 23,1981; by defendant David P. Shackelford on March 23, 1981; by defendant Jeanette Gambale on March 24, 1981; and by defendant Rennay Fantúm on March 24, 1981. The court ordered each of the motions be set down for a hearing and consolidated all five into one hearing. Testimony was taken on April 8, 9, 14, 15, and 22 and memoranda of law were served and argument was completed by counsel on May 12, 1981.

Although the Hinson case involved a class B misdemeanor and required only 60 days before a motion to dismiss could be made, it is conceded that a period of at least 90 days elapsed between the time all the cases were placed on the Part II reserve trial calendar and the time in early March, 1981, when the cases were called for trial.

[543]*543The People raise certain contentions in opposition to the motions, some of which have not been previously addressed by the courts. The People contend that in the case of Shackelford, Crider and Gambale, the defendants waived their rights under CPL 30.30 by requesting adjournments for conference and possible disposition after those rights had accrued.

The People also claim that since all of the defendants are represented by one counsel, the Legal Aid Society, and since practically all cases pending in Criminal Part II, District Court, Nassau County, are matters in which the Legal Aid Society represents the defendants, that the actions of defense counsel, not only in the specific cases which are the subject of these motions, but in all other cases in Part II, directly affected the delay of the calendar. Therefore, the People contend, such delay was consented to by the defendants and should be chargeable to them. They further argue that in the cases of Fantum, Shackelford and Gambale, the defendants themselves requested that the cases be placed on the reserve trial calendar, and in effect that was a request for an adjournment by those defendants and that the period during which these cases remained on the reserve calendar should not be chargeable to the People.

The People further argue that in the case of Fantum they effectively communicated their readiness on the record.

In the case of Crider, the People contend that the People were ready for trial as evidenced by contemporaneous records showing that the case was marked for trial and that defendant adjourned the trial on the scheduled dates.

They also state that all defendants were estopped from applying the effects of CPL 30.30 to the period during which the cases remained on the reserve calendar, because defendants, by their contemporaneous actions, agreed that CPL 30.30 would be inoperative, while on the reserve calendar.

The defendants simply deny the arguments of the People and request a strict construction of the provisions of CPL 30.30, claiming that the People did not communicate on the record their readiness to proceed to trial at any time [544]*544until after the 90 days had elapsed. They also claim that at no time during the 90-day period did any of the defendants request an adjournment or do anything to toll the time period counted against the People pursuant to CPL 30.30, nor were there any circumstances which could be defined as “exceptional.”

Starting November 10, 1980 a new calendaring system was instituted in the Criminal Parts of the Nassau County District Courts, whereby all cases after being conferenced twice would be placed on a reserve trial calendar. Cases in the reserve trial calendar were not called for trial until placed on the ready calendar, which was to be called each Monday. Between 20 to 30 cases on the average were to be placed on the ready calendar based upon their age in the Part. In addition, those cases where a defendant was in detention were given preference. Cases were added to that ready calendar as others were disposed of, either by trial or plea.

The purpose of the new calendar system was to keep the Judges busy and to move the calendar more quickly. The Judges were kept busy, but unfortunately the effect was to create heavier calendar calls and conferences, while the reserve trial calendar grew. Delays in disposing of cases increased first from 4 to 6 weeks and then from 8 to 10 weeks. Both the People and the Legal Aid Society were aware of the increasing delays. At no time did either the People or defense counsel object to the procedure or the placing of cases on the reserve trial calendar, except where a case did not have the two prior conferences required. At no time did anyone object to the fact that the trials would be delayed, nor did the People ever answer “Ready” in open court before a case was placed on the reserve trial calendar.

In early March, 1981 the court, noting the delay caused by the procedure, started to bring all the cases on the reserve trial calendar to a ready calendar and commenced to reconference the cases pending.

The hearing involving the defendants established the following facts:

On June 21, 1980, David A. Hinson was charged with menacing, a class B misdemeanor. He was given an ap[545]*545pearance ticket to appear in court for arraignment on July 25, 1980. He appeared on that day and the matter was adjourned two times for the defendant to obtain counsel. He was arraigned on October 14, 1980 and the case was marked for trial November 19, 1980. On November 19, 1980, the case was not called for trial, having been placed on the reserve trial calendar by the clerk of the court. The defendant made no objection and the People made no request for the case to be put on a trial calendar, nor did they answer “Ready.” It remained in limbo until March 9, 1981 when the People answered “Ready ” for the first time. On October 14, 1980, when the case was adjourned for trial on November 19, 1980, the court stated, “Ready means the People will have witnesses available for trial. If the People are not ready, that is they do not have witnesses available on the date of trial, the case will be dismissed.” The People said nothing and, as stated above, the case was never called again until March 9, 1981.

On September 6, 1980 Leonard Crider was charged with petit larceny, was directed to appear for arraignment on September 8, 1980 and appeared on that date and requested a lawyer. He was arraigned on October 6,1980. On October 21, 1980 the defendant requested a one month’s adjournment. On November 17, 1980 the case was placed on the reserve trial calendar.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
110 Misc. 2d 541, 441 N.Y.S.2d 882, 1981 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3121, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-hinson-nydistct-1981.