DEFENDANT’S WAIVER OF APPEAL WAS INVALID; HER SENTENCE WAS FURTHER REDUCED PURSUANT TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS JUSTICE ACT (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department determined defendant’s appeal-waiver was invalid and further reduced her sentence pursuant to the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act:

The County Court did not discuss the appeal waiver with the defendant until after the defendant had already admitted her guilt as part of the plea agreement … . Further, when the court raised the issue of the appeal waiver, the defendant, who had no known prior contact with the criminal justice system, advised the court that she had not discussed the waiver with her attorney, which required a pause in the proceedings to give her an opportunity to do so. These circumstances, including the defendant’s experience and background, demonstrate that the purported waiver of the right to appeal was invalid … .

Pursuant to the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (L 2019, ch 31, § 1; L 2019, ch 55, § 1, part WW, § 1 [eff May 14, 2019]; hereinafter the DVSJA), courts may “impose reduced alternative, less severe, sentences in certain cases involving defendants who are victims of domestic violence” … . Here, while the County Court granted the defendant’s application for an alternative sentence under the DVSJA, we find that the sentence imposed should be reduced to the extent indicated herein … . People v Heft, 2023 NY Slip Op 05148, Second Dept 10-11-23

Practice Point: Defendant’s appeal waiver was deemed invalid, in part because she had not discussed the waiver with her attorney and had no prior contact with the criminal justice system.

Practice Point: Here County Court had reduced defendant’s sentence pursuant to the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act and the Second Department reduced it further.