Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Michael Martin, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2012-04-24
Citations: 94 A.D.3d 637
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Michael Martin, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 94
Pages: 637–637

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Michael Martin, Appellant.
[942 NYS2d 115]

Opinion:
Order, Supreme Court, Bronx County (John P Collins, J.), entered May 3, 2010, which denied defendant's CPL 440.46 motion for resentencing, unanimously reversed, on the law, and the matter remanded for de novo proceedings on the motion.
Defendant was eligible for consideration for resentencing even though he had been released from custody on his underlying drug conviction but reincarcerated for a parole violation (see People v Paulin, 17 NY3d 238 [2011]).
The court ruled in the alternative that substantial justice dictated that defendant's motion be denied. However, defendant was denied his right to be "brought before the court and given an opportunity to be heard" (People v Soler, 45 AD3d 499 [2007], lv dismissed 9 NY3d 1009 [2007]). The court issued its order by mail several weeks in advance of defendant's first scheduled appearance before it. Therefore, defendant had no opportunity to be heard on the issue of whether substantial justice dictated denial of his motion (see People v Scarborough, 88 AD3d 585, 585 [2011]).
We have considered and rejected the People's arguments concerning preservation. Concur — Tom, J.R, Friedman, Catterson, Acosta and Freedman, JJ.