People v. Nagler

21 A.D.2d 490, 251 N.Y.S.2d 107, 1964 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3240
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedJuly 9, 1964
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 21 A.D.2d 490 (People v. Nagler) 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
People v. Nagler, 21 A.D.2d 490, 251 N.Y.S.2d 107, 1964 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3240 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1964).

Opinion

Stevens, J.

This is an appeal by the People from an order entered May 11, 1964, which amended a judgment of conviction nunc pro tunc as of July 26, 1963, so as to allow defendant-respondent (defendant) credit for a period of incarceration in prison in Paris, France, while awaiting extradition on a charge of which he was subsequently convicted.

March 20,1961, defendant fled the jurisdiction. April 17,1961, a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of forgery and grand larceny. February 5, 1962, defendant was arrested in Paris and remained incarcerated until his extradition in July, 1962.

After his conviction upon a plea of guilty, and later sentence, defendant moved for an order pursuant to section 2193 of the [492]*492Penal Law for clarification of such statute and for credit for the time spent in prison in France. It is from the granting of such motion and the order amending the judgment nunc pro tunc that this appeal is taken.

Two questions are posed by this appeal: (1) may the court amend its own judgment under the circumstances as they exist here; (2) should the defendant be allowed credit for the extradition time.

Generally speaking, whether the judgment be of acquittal or conviction (Code Grim. Pro., § 442), fine {id., §§ 483, 484), suspended sentence or suspension of execution of sentence or imprisonment (Penal Law, § 2188; Code Grim. Pro., §§ 470-a, 471; People ex rel. Woodin v. Ottaway, 247 N. Y. 493), it represents the official judicial decision or disposition of the criminal proceeding. While the court has power to remit a fine (Code Grim. Pro., § 484), no such power of sentence alteration ordinarily exists where the sentence is, as here, one of imprisonment. [T]he imprisonment directed by the judgment, shall not be suspended or interrupted after such imprisonment shall have commenced” (Penal Law, § 2188; Code Grim. Pro., § 470-a). “ [T]he term of imprisonment of each prisoner shall begin on the date of his or her actual incarceration in a state prison or penitentiary” (Correction Law, § 231).

Notwithstanding the language of section 2188, it is clear the court has inherent power to correct its own mistakes, and set aside its own judgment in the field where coram nobis is utilized when such judgment is due to error and is procured by fraud or misrepresentation (Matter of Lyons v. Goldstein, 290 N. Y. 19), where the prosecutor knowingly used perjured testimony (Matter of Morhous v. New York Supreme Ct., 293 N. Y. 131) or certain constitutional right violated which are not in the record to be cured by appeal (Matter of Bojinoff v. People, 299 N. Y. 145; Matter of Hogan v. Court of General Sessions, 296 N. Y. 1; People v. Kendricks, 300 N. Y. 544). Such errors are errors of fact which are not apparent on the face of the record so that they could be cured by appeal, and such facts have not been adjudicated because they were unknown. If the court were without power to correct the judgment, the errors and such inability could constitute a violation of due process or result in rank injustice (cf. People v. Meshel, 245 App. Div. 673).

In the case before us, since a failure to allow credit for extradition time was not an error of fact affecting the judgment, nor was it in violation of a constitutional right, the court was without power to amend the judgment.

[493]*493If it be concluded the defendant is entitled to credit for the extradition time, the fact that an improper procedure or method of redress was .adopted would not preclude this court from granting relief.

Section 2193 of the Penal Law upon which defendant premised his application, provided in part:

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Bluebook (online)
21 A.D.2d 490, 251 N.Y.S.2d 107, 1964 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3240, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-nagler-nyappdiv-1964.