Opinion
2019–10725
11-20-2019
In the Matter of Craig JACOB, Petitioner, v. Jodi ORLOW, etc., et al., Respondents.
Craig Jacob, Valley Stream, NY, petitioner pro se. Letitia James, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Shari M. Goodstein of counsel), for respondent Jodi Orlow. Theodore Alatsas, Brooklyn, NY, for respondent Mary Jacob.
Craig Jacob, Valley Stream, NY, petitioner pro se.
Letitia James, Attorney General, New York, N.Y. (Shari M. Goodstein of counsel), for respondent Jodi Orlow.
Theodore Alatsas, Brooklyn, NY, for respondent Mary Jacob.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., LEONARD B. AUSTIN, ROBERT J. MILLER, COLLEEN D. DUFFY, JJ.
DECISION & JUDGMENT Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of mandamus and prohibition, inter alia, to compel the respondent Jodi Orlow, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Queens County, to recuse herself from presiding over an action entitled Jacob v. Jacob, pending in that court under Index No. 13134/14.
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 N.Y.2d 12, 16, 439 N.Y.S.2d 882, 422 N.E.2d 542 ). "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 N.Y.2d 564, 569, 528 N.Y.S.2d 21, 523 N.E.2d 297 ; see Matter of Rush v. Mordue , 68 N.Y.2d 348, 352, 509 N.Y.S.2d 493, 502 N.E.2d 170 ). The petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought.
RIVERA, J.P., AUSTIN, MILLER and DUFFY, JJ., concur.