Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: James GARDINER, Appellant, v. NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF PAROLE, Respondent.
Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Pritzker, J.), entered June 11, 2007 in Washington County, which dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, to review a determination of the Board of Parole denying petitioner's request for parole release.
Following his 1985 conviction of robbery in the first degree and attempted robbery in the first degree, petitioner was sentenced to concurrent terms of 7 1/212 to 15 years in prison. While incarcerated, he stabbed another inmate to death and was subsequently convicted of manslaughter in the first degree. He was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison on this charge, which sentence was to run consecutive to the sentence he was then serving. In June 2006, petitioner made his third appearance before the Board of Parole for parole release. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board denied his request and ordered him held for an additional 24 months. Petitioner took an administrative appeal and commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding when a determination was not rendered within four months. Following joinder of issue, Supreme Court dismissed the petition and this appeal ensued.
We affirm. Contrary to petitioner's claim, the record does not reveal that the Board based its decision solely upon the serious nature of his crimes. The Board also considered other statutory factors set forth in Executive Law § 259-i, including petitioner's prior conviction for robbery in the second degree, prior parole violations, his prison disciplinary record, his program accomplishments and his postrelease plans (see Matter of Mojica v. Travis, 34 A.D.3d 1155, 1156, 824 N.Y.S.2d 497 [2006] ). The Board was not required to give each factor equal weight and could, as it did, choose to place greater emphasis on the seriousness of petitioner's crimes (see Matter of Motti v. Dennison, 38 A.D.3d 1030, 1031, 831 N.Y.S.2d 298 [2007] ). Although the record improperly includes arrest information on sealed criminal matters, the Board did not rely on this information and we deem it harmless (see Matter of Grune v. Board of Parole, 41 A.D.3d 1014, 1015, 838 N.Y.S.2d 694 [2007] ). Petitioner's remaining contentions are unavailing. Insofar as the Board's decision does not exhibit “ ‘irrationality bordering on impropriety’ ” (Matter of Silmon v. Travis, 95 N.Y.2d 470, 476, 718 N.Y.S.2d 704, 741 N.E.2d 501 [2000], quoting Matter of Russo v. New York State Bd. of Parole, 50 N.Y.2d 69, 77, 427 N.Y.S.2d 982, 405 N.E.2d 225 [1980] ), we find no reason to disturb it.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, without costs.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: February 14, 2008
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)