NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks announced Tuesday the launch of a new effort to expedite felony gun cases throughout the city amid a rise in gun violence and a backlog of possession criminal cases.
In coordination with the court system, the district attorneys of each borough and other partners, the initiative will target new and pending cases in both the criminal court and the New York City court system where the highest charge is criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
DiFiore and Marks credit the COVID-19 pandemic for exacerbating the more than 4,000 felony gun possession case backlog in New York City. Their effort will focus on reducing this surplus and that "swift action" is taken for new felony gun possession arrests.
“With the recent rise in gun cases in courts throughout the five boroughs, this citywide initiative will help ensure that these important cases are resolved as swiftly and effectively as possible," Marks said.
Other key components of the program include expanding grand jury capacity and the number of grand juries beginning in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens, as well as delegate specific judges to handle newly-indicted cases charging felony gun possession. Cases will also be monitored to assure their effectiveness and efficiency.
Judge George Grasso, the Supervising Judge of the Criminal Court in Bronx County, will oversee the day-to-day operation of the new program.
"I am appreciative that Judge Grasso will be helping us implement this new program and am grateful to our New York City justice partners for their support of this effort." Marks added.