Hochul seeks reform of New York's discovery laws

Governor Kathy Hochul is calling for changes to New York's discovery laws, claiming they harm domestic violence victims. During a discussion with survivors in Albany, she emphasized that current laws allow some abusers to evade justice. Hochul pointed out that the percentage of domestic violence convictions has dropped sharply, from 31% in 2019 to just 6% today. She argued that the requirement for prosecutors to quickly provide evidence to defense attorneys leads to case dismissals, leaving victims unsafe. The governor criticized the notion that fair trials and holding abusers accountable are opposing goals. She stated, "We must do both." Former Governor Andrew Cuomo had made changes to discovery practices in 2019 with the intention of speeding up trials, but prosecutors now say this has led to an increase in dismissals. Even Manhattan's District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, has joined in asking for reform. He highlighted a recent case where an accused abuser was released on a technicality, illustrating a larger problem for survivors seeking justice. Hochul, along with New York City district attorneys, is advocating for these reforms in the upcoming state budget. However, the Legal Aid Society has challenged her claims, arguing that dismissals have not significantly increased outside of the five boroughs. They point to issues with the NYPD's evidence handling and caution against using selective cases to argue for changes that could undermine fairness in the legal system.