PEOPLE EX REL KIELLY v. RUSSELL (2025)

DECISION & ORDER

In a habeas corpus proceeding, the petitioner appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Westchester County (George E. Fufidio, J.), dated September 15, 2022.  The judgment denied the petition and, in effect, dismissed the proceeding.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.

The petitioner is currently serving a sentence of imprisonment for her 2012 conviction of murder in the first degree, and will not be eligible for parole until 2036.  The petitioner commenced this proceeding for a writ of habeas corpus, seeking her immediate release from custody due to, inter alia, the respondents' alleged deliberate indifference to her serious medical need for gender-affirming care.  In a judgment dated September 15, 2022, the Supreme Court denied the petition and, in effect, dismissed the proceeding.  The petitioner appeals.

The petitioner has failed to demonstrate that her imprisonment is illegal (see People ex rel. Tse v. Barometre, 188 A.D.3d 714, 715, 131 N.Y.S.3d 896;  People ex rel. Ferro v. Brann, 183 A.D.3d 758, 758, 121 N.Y.S.3d 658).  Contrary to the petitioner's contention, she has not demonstrated that prison officials have been deliberately indifferent to her medical needs or that she is entitled to immediate release from custody as a remedy for any failure to address her medical needs (see People ex rel. Ferro v. Brann, 183 A.D.3d at 758, 121 N.Y.S.3d 658).

Since there were no triable issues of fact that necessitated a hearing, the Supreme Court properly denied the petition, and, in effect, dismissed the proceeding without conducting a hearing (see People ex rel. Robertson v. New York State Div. of Parole, 67 N.Y.2d 197, 203, 501 N.Y.S.2d 634, 492 N.E.2d 762;  People ex rel. Grossfeld v. Brann, 182 A.D.3d 556, 556, 120 N.Y.S.3d 633;  People ex rel. Jackson v. Scully, 183 A.D.2d 799, 799–800, 586 N.Y.S.2d 522).

Moreover, the Supreme Court did not err in denying the petitioner's request for the appointment of counsel, as she failed to make a prima facie showing of a need for legal counsel (see People ex rel. Williams v. La Vallee, 19 N.Y.2d 238, 241, 279 N.Y.S.2d 1, 225 N.E.2d 735;  People ex rel. Adamson v. Griffin, 178 A.D.3d 715, 715, 111 N.Y.S.3d 220;  People v. Soodoo, 109 A.D.3d 1014, 1016, 972 N.Y.S.2d 290).

The petitioner's remaining contention is not properly before this Court.

CONNOLLY, J.P., MILLER, VENTURA and MCCORMACK, JJ., concur.