Case Name: In the Matter of Keith McDay, Petitioner, v. Michael Brennan, as Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, et al., Respondents. Charles J. Hynes, Nonparty
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2003-09-15
Citations: 308 A.D.2d 492
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Keith McDay, Petitioner, v Michael Brennan, as Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, et al., Respondents. Charles J. Hynes, Nonparty.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 308
Pages: 492–493

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Keith McDay, Petitioner, v Michael Brennan, as Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, et al., Respondents. Charles J. Hynes, Nonparty.
[764 NYS2d 650]

Opinion:
—Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of prohibition, inter alia, to prohibit the respondent, Michael Brennan, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Kings County, from deciding any motions submitted by the petitioner's assigned counsel, and from enforcing a policy preventing a defendant who is represented by counsel from filing motions and/or proceedings for a writ of habeas corpus pro se, and application for leave to prosecute the proceeding as a poor person and for the assignment of counsel.
Ordered that the application for leave to prosecute the proceeding as a poor person is granted; and it is further,
Adjudged that the petition is denied and the proceeding is dismissed, without costs or disbursements.
"Because of its extraordinary nature, prohibition is available only where there is a clear legal right, and then only when a court — in cases where judicial authority is challenged — acts or threatens to act either without jurisdiction or in excess of its authorized powers" (Matter of Holtzman v Goldman, 71 NY2d 564, 569 [1988]; see Matter of Rush v Mordue, 68 NY2d 348, 352 [1986]). The petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought (see Matter of Williams v Zambelli, 267 AD2d 243 [1999]; Matter of Valle v Moskowitz, 186 AD2d 572 [1992]). S. Miller, J.P., McGinity, Crane, Cozier and Rivera, JJ., concur.