The debate of the New York discovery law is heated

The proposal of Governor Kathy Hochul to amend the 2019 Discovery Laws of New York faces a growing opposition, with groups such as the NAACP and the Legal Aid Society that urge legislators to reject the changes.

The Hochul Plan aims to prevent the dismissals of cases on minor technicalities and adjust the sanctions for evidence violations, but critics argue that it could weaken the rights of the defendants.

The Manhattan senator, Cordell Cleare, leads the legislative opposition, warning that prosecutors could use discovery delays to press guilty agreements.

The supporters of Hochul’s proposal, including district prosecutors, argue the current law of Overburdens prosecutors, leading to dismissal of unnecessary cases. Some legislative leaders are open to reform, but remain divided into specific changes.

Fingerlakes1.com is the main publication of digital news in the region. The company was founded in 1998 and has kept residents informed for more than two decades. Do you have a leadership? Send it to (protected email).