In the Matter of Farid "John" Popal, Petitioner, v. Robert J. Hanophy, as Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, et al., Respondents

In the Matter of Farid “John” Popal, Petitioner, v Robert J. Hanophy, as Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, et al., Respondents. [763 NYS2d 499] [MAJORITY] Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of prohibition, inter alia, to prohibit the respondent Robert J. Hanophy, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Queens County, from commencing trial in an underlying criminal action entitled People v Popal, pending under Queens County Indictment No. 2186/02. 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 Wright v Greenberg, 296 AD2d 463 [2002]). Under the circumstances of this case, the petitioner failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought (see generally People v Giordano, 87 NY2d 441 [1995]). Altman, J.P., Goldstein, McGinity and H. Miller, JJ., concur.