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Routine Enforcement Amended Final

People v. H.A. - Appellate Court Opinion

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Filed March 17th, 2026
Detected March 18th, 2026
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Summary

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York modified a judgment against defendant H.A. The court vacated the mandatory surcharge and fees imposed at sentencing. The modification was made in the interest of justice.

What changed

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department, issued an opinion in the case of People v. H.A. The court modified the judgment rendered by the Supreme Court, New York County, by vacating the mandatory surcharge and fees imposed on the defendant at sentencing. This action was taken as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, with the People not opposing the relief.

This ruling directly impacts the financial obligations of the defendant in this specific case. For legal professionals involved in similar cases, this decision highlights the court's willingness to exercise its interest of justice powers to vacate surcharges and fees. While this is a specific case outcome, it serves as a reminder of potential avenues for relief in sentencing matters.

Source document (simplified)

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March 17, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Add Note

People v. H.A.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York

Combined Opinion

People v H.A. (2026 NY Slip Op 01467)
| People v H.A. |
| 2026 NY Slip Op 01467 |
| Decided on March 17, 2026 |
| Appellate Division, First Department |
| Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. |
| This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports. |

Decided and Entered: March 17, 2026
Before: Webber, J.P., Friedman, González, O'Neill Levy, Michael, JJ.
Ind. No. 71439/23|SCI Nos. 74364/23, 71070/24|Appeal No. 6112-6113-6114|Case No. 2025-02339, 2025-02340, 2025-02341|

*[1]The People of The State of New York, Respondent,

v

H.A., Defendant-Appellant.**

Jenay Nurse Guilford, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (David J. Klem of counsel), for appellant.

Judgments, Supreme Court, New York County (Laura A. Ward, J.), rendered April 8, 2025, unanimously modified, as a matter of discretion in the interest of justice, to the extent of vacating the surcharge and fees imposed on defendant at sentencing, and otherwise affirmed.

Based on our own interest of justice powers, we vacate the mandatory surcharge and fees imposed on defendant at sentencing (People v Chirinos, 190 AD3d 434 [1st Dept 2021]). We note that the People do not oppose this relief.

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.

ENTERED: March 17, 2026

Counsel for appellant is referred to § 606.5, Rules of the Appellate Division, First Department.

Source

Analysis generated by AI. Source diff and links are from the original.

Classification

Agency
NY Courts
Filed
March 17th, 2026
Instrument
Enforcement
Legal weight
Binding
Stage
Final
Change scope
Minor

Who this affects

Applies to
Legal professionals Criminal defendants
Geographic scope
State (New York)

Taxonomy

Primary area
Criminal Justice
Operational domain
Legal
Topics
Judicial Administration Sentencing

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