THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EX REL RICHIE STOKES PETITIONER APPELLANT v. NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF PAROLE AND MS DOLCE SUPERINTENDENT ORLEANS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY RESPONDENTS RESPONDENTS (2016)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that said appeal is unanimously dismissed without costs.

Memorandum:  Petitioner appeals from a judgment dismissing his petition for a writ of habeas corpus.  The appeal has been rendered moot by petitioner's release from custody upon reaching his maximum expiration date (see People ex rel. Smith v. Cully, 112 AD3d 1316, 1317, lv denied 22 NY3d 864;  People ex rel. Reynolds v. Artus, 103 AD3d 1208, 1208–1209;  People ex rel. Baron v New York State Dept. of Corr., 94 AD3d 1410, 1410, lv denied 19 NY3d 807), and the exception to the mootness doctrine does not apply (see Reynolds, 103 AD3d at 1209;  Baron, 94 AD3d at 1410;  see generally Matter of Hearst Corp. v Clyne, 50 N.Y.2d 707, 714–715).  While this Court has the power to convert the habeas corpus proceeding into a CPLR article 78 proceeding, we decline to do so under the circumstances of this case (see People ex rel. Walker v. Dolce, 125 AD3d 1305, 1305, lv denied 25 NY3d 910;  People ex rel. Green v. Smith, 119 AD3d 1451, 1452).

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court