People v. Little

89 Misc. 2d 742, 392 N.Y.S.2d 831, 1977 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1970
CourtNew York County Courts
DecidedMarch 18, 1977
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 89 Misc. 2d 742 (People v. Little) 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. Little, 89 Misc. 2d 742, 392 N.Y.S.2d 831, 1977 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1970 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1977).

Opinion

Frederick D. Dugan, J.

The State Comptroller has twice rendered his opinion that the Yates County Court stenographer is entitled to payment of the fees prescribed by law for preparation of transcripts in the above matter and in addition to her salary fixed by the County Legislature. (Comptroller’s Opn No. 76-838 and No. 76-838-A.)

The respondent County Attorney has advised the respondent County Treasurer that payment was not required. The Yates County Legislature by Resolution No. 254-76 has directed the Treasurer not to pay the transcript charges until payment is required by "final order of a Court of competent jurisdiction”.

The CPL mandates that when an appeal is taken by a defendant, the criminal court in which the sentence being appealed was imposed must direct the stenographer to make and file with the court two transcripts of the stenographic minutes of the proceedings constituting the record on appeal. (CPL 460.70; People v Shenandoah, 81 Misc 2d 316.)

The statute expressly provides the transcript expense is a [743]*743county charge payable to the stenographer out of the court fund, or out of the juror’s fund or out of any other available fund, upon the certificate of the Criminal Court Judge. (CPL 460.70.)

The transcript charges are set by law at 60 cents a page. There are two folios per page (22 NYCRR 1027.3 [c]) and the charge is 30 cents per folio (CPLR 8002).

After the defendant’s conviction for manslaughter in the second degree, he was sentenced on August 5, 1975. The County Clerk advised the court stenographer of the timely filing of the notice of appeal and requested her to make two transcripts of the stenographic minutes of the trial conducted by the court from June 10, 1975 to July 2, 1975, involving some 32 witnesses. A single transcript totaled 1,141 single-spaced pages. The two typed transcripts were completed June 9, 1976, and filed with the County Clerk on June 18, 1976.

On June 16, 1976, the court certified its approval on the voucher of Debra C. Miller, the court stenographer, and it was forwarded to the County Treasurer. That voucher for $1,369.20 has not been paid although there has been extensive correspondence as to legal basis for the charge and its calculation and opportunity for two inquiries to the Comptroller.

The County Law provides that each court stenographer shall be entitled to retain to his use, in addition to the amount fixed by the County Legislature for regular services, the fees and other compensation prescribed by law or certified by a presiding Judge pursuant to law, for transcribing and furnishing a copy of the minutes, testimony or exhibits taken or produced, in any civil or criminal action or proceeding. (County Law, § 205; see, also, Judiciary Law, § 302; County Law, § 703-a.)

The State Comptroller cited section 205 of the County Law in each of his opinions to the county. The county’s argument then and now is that the court stenographer is a county employee whose position is covered under the Civil Service Employees’ Association contract which provides for her rate of pay and hours of work.

The transcripts here were typed during her regular working hours and with materials, office space and equipment provided by the county.

The county urges that if the work of the stenographer in preparing these transcripts is a charge against the county, it [744]*744has paid the charge under the Civil Service Employees’ Association agreement; that the county is required under the Public Employees’ Fair Employment Act (Civil Service Law, art 14) to enter this agreement with its employees, including this stenographer, and that payment to her of these transcript charges under section 205 of the County Law would be a violation of that agreement. It speculates that giving additional compensation to one employee might result in additional compensation having to be given to other employees covered by that agreement.

Counsel allows that the language of section 205 of the County Law, "shall be entitled to retain to his own use, in addition to the amount fixed * * * for regular services,” might be the basis to pay compensation for services performed in addition to or outside the court stenographer’s regular services, but notes that the employment agreement provides for overtime compensation.

The county’s position is patently incorrect. To hold otherwise means the county could abrogate the statutory law of the State of New York by contract. It is clear that the State Legislature intended the court stenographer to be paid transcript charges "in addition” to her salary or wages.

As noted by the Comptroller, this payment for the transcripts is not an increase in the court stenographer’s compensation under the employment agreement because the transcript payments are required by statute and "in addition” to such compensation. (Comptroller’s Opn No. 76-838-A.)

It is held that section 205 of the County Law mandates the county’s payment of the 30 cent folio charge to the court stenographer in addition to the salary or wage paid for regular services under the employment agreement..

Further, the voucher here is a charge on county funds to be paid by the Treasurer without further approval or audit. (People ex rel. Rea v Prendergast, 221 NY 582.)

The statute specifies the expense of such transcripts is a county charge payable to the stenographer out of the court fund, or out of the juror’s fund or out of any other available fund, upon the certificate of the criminal court. (CPL 460.70.)

The County Court thus has the power to certify the amount to be paid for the transcripts and the court’s certificate of approval takes the place of an audit or other approval which might otherwise fall upon another official. (People ex rel. [745]*745Cantor v Craig, 202 App Div 840.) The Treasurer’s duties here are purely ministerial and are limited to paying the voucher as presented.

These proceedings are brought on by the court’s order to show cause based upon a copy of the voucher and the Comptroller’s letter of August 27, 1976, with appropriate recitals, personally served upon the respondent County Treasurer and the respondent County Attorney, why an order of this court should not be given that the Treasurer pay the voucher of the court stenographer in the above matter in the amount of $1,369.20 as approved by the court on June 16, 1976, without further approval or audit and for such other and further relief as may seem just and proper in the premises.

Respondents by their "Demand” move to dismiss these proceedings upon the grounds that: (1) this court lacks jurisdiction; (2) there is no statutory authority for the issuance of the order to show cause; (3) there is no petition or affidavit to which respondents may answer to defend this matter; (4) the court stenographer is a necessary party not cited or before the court; (5) this relief is contemplated under CPLR article 78 and the proper jurisdiction is the Supreme Court; and (6) this court should disqualify himself, as the Judge who presided at the Criminal Trial and approved the voucher.

Under the inherent powers doctrine a court has all powers reasonably required to enable a court to perform efficiently its judicial functions, to protect its dignity, independence and integrity, and to make its lawful actions effective. These powers are inherent in the sense that they exist because the court exists; the court is,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
89 Misc. 2d 742, 392 N.Y.S.2d 831, 1977 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1970, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-little-nycountyct-1977.