STOKES, RICHIE v. OF PAROLE, THE DIVISION

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department [895] KAH 15-00416 PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., PERADOTTO, DEJOSEPH, NEMOYER, AND CURRAN, JJ. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EX REL. RICHIE STOKES, PETITIONER-APPELLANT, V MEMORANDUM AND ORDER NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF PAROLE AND MS. DOLCE, SUPERINTENDENT, ORLEANS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, RESPONDENTS-RESPONDENTS. THE LEGAL AID BUREAU OF BUFFALO, INC., BUFFALO (ALAN WILLIAMS OF COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONER-APPELLANT. ERIC T. SCHNEIDERMAN, ATTORNEY GENERAL, ALBANY (KATE H. NEPVEU OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENTS-RESPONDENTS. Appeal from a judgment (denominated order) of the Supreme Court, Orleans County (James P. Punch, A.J.), entered November 19, 2014 in a habeas corpus proceeding. The judgment dismissed the petition. It is hereby ORDERED that said appeal is unanimously dismissed without costs. Memorandum: Petitioner appeals from a judgment dismissing his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The appeal has been rendered moot by petitioner’s release from custody upon reaching his maximum expiration date (see People ex rel. Smith v Cully, 112 AD3d 1316, 1317 , lv denied 22 NY3d 864 ; People ex rel. Reynolds v Artus, 103 AD3d 1208, 1208-1209 ; People ex rel. Baron v New York State Dept. of Corr., 94 AD3d 1410, 1410 , lv denied 19 NY3d 807 ), and the exception to the mootness doctrine does not apply (see Reynolds, 103 AD3d at 1209 ; Baron, 94 AD3d at 1410 ; see generally Matter of Hearst Corp. v Clyne, 50 NY2d 707, 714-715 ). While this Court has the power to convert the habeas corpus proceeding into a CPLR article 78 proceeding, we decline to do so under the circumstances of this case (see People ex rel. Walker v Dolce, 125 AD3d 1305, 1305 , lv denied 25 NY3d 910 ; People ex rel. Green v Smith, 119 AD3d 1451, 1452 ). Entered: November 10, 2016 Frances E. Cafarell Clerk of the Court