Opinion
December 6, 1999
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of prohibition, inter alia, to prohibit the respondent, Barbara G. Zambelli, a Justice of the County Court, Westchester County, from deciding any motions submitted by the petitioner to the County Court, Westchester County, and application for leave to prosecute the proceeding as a poor person and for the assignment of counsel.
DAVID S. RITTER, J.P., FRED T. SANTUCCI, DANIEL W. JOY, DANIEL F. LUCIANO, JJ.
DECISION, ORDER JUDGMENT
ORDERED that the application for leave to prosecute the proceeding as a poor person is granted; and it is further,
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 N.Y.2d 564, 569 ; see, Matter of Rush v. Mordue, 68 N.Y.2d 348, 352 ). The petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought.
RITTER, J.P., SANTUCCI, JOY, and LUCIANO, JJ., concur.