Vasile v. Underwood ( 1998 )

—Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of prohibition, inter alia, to prohibit the respondent William L. Underwood, Jr., a Justice of the Supreme Court, from directing the arrest of the petitioner in the absence of a properly noticed hearing pursuant to Judiciary Law § 750.

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 NY2d 564, 569; see, Matter of Rush v Mordue, 68 NY2d 348, 352). The petitioner has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought. Miller, J. P., Thompson, Joy and Luciano, JJ., concur.