Opinion 17-112

October 11, 2017

Dear :

         This responds to your inquiry (17-112) asking whether, and under what conditions, you may grant the probation department’s ex parte request to exempt from disclosure the victim impact statement contained in the pre-sentence investigation report.

         The Committee believes this question cannot be answered without interpretation of the Rules and Regulations of the Probation Department (see 9 NYCRR 350.7[b][7]) and/or other applicable statutes or case law, if any. Therefore, we must decline to respond to this inquiry, as legal questions are beyond the Committee’s jurisdiction (see Judiciary Law §212[2][l]; 22 NYCRR 101.1).

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       George D. Marlow, Assoc. Justice

                                       Appellate Div., First Dep’t (Ret.)

                                       Committee Co-Chair

                                       Hon. Margaret T. Walsh

                                       Family Court Judge

                                       Acting Justice, Supreme Court

                                       Committee Co-Chair