The New York Court of Appeals issued four opinions from March 20-26. As of March 26, the court issued 17 opinions in 2023 — eight fewer than this point a year ago. Three of four opinions are below:
- People v. Ba, where the court remitted a case to the appellate court to review whether the defendant’s sentence was unduly harsh or severe. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of unlicensed general vending.
- People v. Baldwin, where the court dismissed an appeal because the issue had become moot. The issue was whether “the Third Department has imposed an erroneous legal standard on criminal defendants seeking a reduction of their sentences in the interest of justice.”
- Henry v. New Jersey Transit Corp., where the court dismissed an appeal from the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT), as NJT failed to preserve its interstate sovereign immunity defense by not bringing it before the trial court.
From March 20-26, state supreme courts issued 125 opinions nationally. The Kentucky Supreme Court issued the most with 25. State supreme courts in 22 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 78 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 47.
The State of New York Court of Appeals is the state’s court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current acting chief of the court is Anthony Cannataro. The court issued 85 opinions in 2022 and 69 in 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 7,423 opinions in 2022 and 8,320 in 2021. The courts have issued 1,491 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 807 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 684. New York is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.
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