Why N.Y.'s prosecutor watchdog panel still isn't operational six years later

Plus: Stefanik's challenge to early mail-in voting is heard by an appellate court, and This Week in New York History

Good afternoon — it’s Monday, and National Zipper Day.

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• A bill creating the Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct passed in 2018. So why hasn’t it done anything since?

• A challenge to a law passed last year to allow mail-in voting is heard by an appellate court in Albany

• This Week in New York History

🔨 Is Tomorrow a Session Day? No.

☁️ Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Chance of thunderstorms, rain, low 50s. New York City: Chance of rain, high 50s. (National Weather Service)

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(Lori Van Buren/Times Union)

⚖️ N.Y.’s prosecutor watchdog panel inching closer to operational

🔎 After a video showed Monroe County District Attorney acting combative with a police officer who stopped her for speeding, the matter has been referred to a state commission. 

You might have read Monday that Gov. Kathy HOCHUL has referred an incident between Monroe County District Attorney Sandra DOORLEY, a Republican (and former Democrat), and a police officer to the state Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct.

Media outlets in Rochester obtained footage of an interaction between a police officer and Doorley late Friday.

• Doorley had allegedly been speeding — 55 mph in a 35 mph zone — and was pulled over. She told the officer to let it go because she was the district attorney.

• She issued an apology Monday.

There’s just one problem: that commission still isn’t operational, has held only one meeting — entirely in executive session — and doesn’t have rules in place for how they’ll process complaints.