Case Name: In the Matter of Marvin Smith, Petitioner, v. Jeffrey Cohen, as Justice of the Westchester County Court, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2008-10-21
Citations: 55 A.D.3d 841
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Marvin Smith, Petitioner, v Jeffrey Cohen, as Justice of the Westchester County Court, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 55
Pages: 841–842

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Marvin Smith, Petitioner, v Jeffrey Cohen, as Justice of the Westchester County Court, Respondent.
[865 NYS2d 588]

Opinion:
pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of prohibition, inter alia, to prohibit the respondent, Jeffrey Cohen, a Justice of the County Court, Westchester County, from proceeding with the trial in an action entitled People v Smith, pending in that court under indictment No. 08-00084.
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. Spolzino, J.E, Ritter, Santucci and Garni, JJ., concur.