Queens Supreme can handle justice reforms, top judge says

By David Brand 

New bail and discovery laws set to take effect Jan. 1 will have a major effect on proceedings at the in Queens Supreme Court, but court personnel are ready to meet the demands of the new measures, said Queens Supreme Court Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas.

“We’re reducing inventory substantially and old cases are down — we’ve been working on that through the Chief Judge’s Excellence Initiative,” Zayas said. “We think we can handle this without creating new parts. We’re keeping an open mind.”

During the last legislative session, the state eliminated cash bail on virtually all misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies, as well as on certain burglary and robbery offenses considered violent felonies. Another upcoming reform will force prosecutors to turn over evidence and other discovery materials to defense attorneys within 15 days of arraignment. Prosecutors can get a 30-day extension if there is a large amount of material or if the district attorney cannot obtain the required information within the 15-day window.

Defense attorneys will likely challenge the discovery time frames, prompting additional hearing. Zayas said the court is equipped to absorb the additional hearing.

“We expect that we’re going to be able to handle the applications and if they get too daunting, we’ll address that,” Zayas said.

“The way we have operated and the extent to which we have been reducing our inventories over the years, we are going to be able to handle those new issues,” he added.

Criminal Court in Queens and the other four boroughs will each feature expanded desk appearance ticket parts, an Office of Court Administration spokesperson told the Eagle.

The DAT part will include DAT/D (day), DATN (night), DAT/We (weekend). 

“This is to accommodate the expected increase in desk appearance tickets issued by the police in lieu of an arrest,” the OCA spokesperson said.