Gun violence felony cases to be expedited by NYC courts

The courts are implementing a program to fast track felony gun violence cases next week. Eagle file Photo by David Brand

By Rachel Vick

Starting next week, New York City’s thousands of new and pending gun violence cases are getting a push forward thanks to a new collaborative effort between the courts and all five of the city’s district attorneys.

The initiative, announced by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks, is intended to tackle the 4,000 case backlog by implementing a number of measures to expedite the judicial process.

“With the recent rise in gun cases in courts throughout the five boroughs, this citywide initiative will help ensure that these important cases are resolved as swiftly and effectively as possible,” Marks said. “I am … grateful to our New York City justice partners for their support of this effort.”

Shooting incidents decreased by 35 percent in July 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, according to NYPD data, but court closures during the pandemic for non-emergency cases stalled proceedings as arrests continued.

In the middle of July, Queens had 412 of the high level cases unindicted and 337 indictments pending, according to OCA.

For cases where the top charge is criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, courts, starting with Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn, will expand the number of grand juries being seated.

A team of judges will be appointed to adjudicate newly-indicted cases charging felony gun possession in each borough to expedite pretrial hearings and preside over pleas and trials.

Administrative judges will work to expedite the trials where a plea is not submitted and gun possession cases that have already been indicted will be fast-tracked by the judge currently assigned to the case.

Supervising Judge of the Criminal Court in Bronx County Judge George Grasso will oversee day-to-day operation of the new program and ensure that throughout the process cases are processed as quickly and efficiently as possible in accordance without violating due process.

Case management data will be evaluated to ensure just proceedings and the efficiency of the new model as the court works through the backlog.

Stakeholders, including the Citizens Crime Commission and the Queens District Attorney’s office, were consulted during the planning process.

“Given the scourge of gun violence and the backlog of gun cases across the city, this is a welcome initiative,” a spokesperson from the DA’s office told the Eagle. “We applaud OCA’s commitment to expedited and just case resolution.”