Case Name: In the Matter of Adam Morales, Petitioner, v. Helene F. Gugerty, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2014-09-10
Citations: 120 A.D.3d 1234
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Adam Morales, Petitioner, v Helene F. Gugerty, Respondent.
Judges: Dillon, J.P, Dickerson, Cohen and Duffy, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 120
Pages: 1234–1235

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Adam Morales, Petitioner, v Helene F. Gugerty, Respondent.
[991 NYS2d 901]

Opinion:
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of mandamus, inter alia, to compel the respondent, Helene F. Gugerty, an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, to permit the petitioner to proceed pro se and to recuse herself from presiding over the criminal action entitled People v Morales, commenced in that court under Indictment No. 1628/13, and application by the petitioner for poor person relief.
Ordered that the application for poor person relief is granted to the extent that the filing fee imposed by CPLR 8022 (b) is waived, and the application is otherwise denied; and it is further,
Adjudged that the petition is denied and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits, without costs or disbursements.
The extraordinary remedy of mandamus will lie only to compel the performance of a ministerial act, and only where there exists a clear legal right to the relief sought (see Matter of Legal Aid Socy. of Sullivan County v Scheinman, 53 NY2d 12, 16 [1981]). The petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought.
Dillon, J.P, Dickerson, Cohen and Duffy, JJ., concur.