You are here: / / FAMILY COURT DID NOT MAKE THE REQUIRED “SEARCHING INQUIRY”...
, ,

FAMILY COURT DID NOT MAKE THE REQUIRED “SEARCHING INQUIRY” RE: WHETHER FATHER WAS KNOWINGLY, INTELLIGENTLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVING HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL (FIRST DEPT). ​

The First Department, reversing Family Court, held the judge did not make the required “searching inquiry” to determine whether father was knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waiving his right to counsel. Father had made a motion to vacate a final order of protection:

… [T]he court failed to conduct the requisite “searching inquiry” to ensure that the father’s waiver of his right to counsel was “knowing, intelligent, and voluntary” … . While the court advised both parties that they had the right to be represented by counsel, could seek an adjournment to speak to one, and that one might be appointed to them, the court did not question the father about his background, such as age, education, or occupation, and any prior experience of being a pro se litigant or being exposed to legal procedures … . It also did not caution the father against self-representation, detail the dangers and disadvantages of doing so, or inform him that he would have to follow the same legal rules as if he had been represented … . Thus, the court failed to evaluate the father’s competency to waive counsel and his understanding of the consequences of self-representation … . Matter of Marlene H. v Loren D.2023 NY Slip Op 05225, First Dept 10-17-23

Practice Point: The questions a judge must ask before a waiver of the right counsel will be deemed valid are concisely explained.

 

You might also like
THE NONPARTY OPERATOR OF AN ANONYMOUS WEBSITE WHICH POSTED ALLEGEDLY DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS ABOUT RESPONDENT BUSINESS WAS ENTITLED TO MAINTAIN HER ANONYMITY PURSUANT TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT; HER MOTION TO QUASH SUBPOENAS AIMED AT REVEALING HER IDENTITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (FISRT DEPT).
PETITIONERS, THE NEW YORK TAXI WORKERS ALLIANCE, HAD STANDING TO CONTEST THE NYC TAXI AND LIMOUSINE COMMISSION’S PILOT PROGRAM WHICH WOULD ADD 2500 FOR-HIRE VEHICLES TO THE CITY STREETS; PETITIONERS DEMONSTRATED THE ADDED VEHICLES WOULD REDUCE MEMBERS’ INCOME (INJURY-IN-FACT) IN VIOLATION OF A LOCAL LAW (FIRST DEPT).
THE CONTROLLING STATUTE DOES NOT PROVIDE THAT THE CITY CAN SUE FOR DAMAGES FOR INJURY TO TREES, THE REGULATION WHICH PURPORTS TO ALLOW SUCH A SUIT DECLARED INVALID (FIRST DEPT).
28 MONTH DELAY DID NOT DEPRIVE DEFENDANT OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL, DELAY ATTRIBUTED TO PROSECUTION, HOWEVER, WAS CRITICIZED (FIRST DEPT).
Dismissal of Complaint Was Too Severe a Sanction for Spoliation
Failure to Get Court’s Permission to Represent to a Grand Jury Required Dismissal of Indictment​
PLAINTIFF’S WORK, DELIVERING TILES TO THE WORK SITE, WAS COVERED BY LABOR LAW 240(1) AS “NECESSARY AND INCIDENTAL” TO THE PROTECTED CONSTRUCTION-ACTIVITY (FIRST DEPT).
OFFICE OF MEDICAID INSPECTOR GENERAL COULD NOT SEEK REIMBURSEMENT OF OVERPAYMENTS IN AN AMOUNT HIGHER THAN SPECIFICALLY INDICATED IN ITS WRITTEN NOTICE.

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

DEFENDANT, IN THE PLEA COLLOQUY, SAID SHE ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE; AT THAT POINT... THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE NOTICE OF CLAIM DID NOT PRESENT A NEW THEORY OF...