Discovery Law Delays Spark Public Safety Concerns at Budget Hearing

During the Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Budget Hearing for Public Safety, officials expressed serious concerns about the impacts of recent Discovery laws on case processing efficiency. The hearing, which took place on March 11, 2025, highlighted that these laws have led to significant delays in the justice system, impacting both victims and defendants.

District Attorneys (DAs) reported that the implementation of Discovery reforms has resulted in a staggering rise in case dismissals, from 41% prior to the reforms to around 62% in 2023. Influenced by these changes, these numbers pose a direct threat to public safety by allowing numerous cases to be dismissed due to technicalities rather than substantive judicial considerations (Source: https://youtu.be/O4f5eH0THWE&t=16857).

The complexities of the Discovery process have overwhelmed the courts, contributing to extended waiting periods for case resolutions. For instance, delays in receiving court decisions on discovery issues can stretch three months, exacerbating the backlog of cases (Source: https://youtu.be/O4f5eH0THWE&t=23182). Senior court staff have taken measures to address these issues by becoming more directly involved in resolving discovery matters, but these interventions have been insufficient to fully alleviate the growing delays (Source: https://youtu.be/O4f5eH0THWE&t=23083).

DAs have emphasized the need for modest legislative changes to the Discovery laws to better balance the rights of defendants with the need for swift and fair justice. The calls for reform include adjustments that would ease the burden of compliance without entirely rolling back the initial reforms, which were intended to ensure more transparent evidence-sharing (Source: https://youtu.be/O4f5eH0THWE&t=23740).

While the District Attorney’s offices have been granted additional funding to aid in meeting Discovery obligations, officials warned that these financial resources alone will not resolve the systemic issues. Increased staffing is essential to manage the volume of discoverable material. DAs affirmed a persistent need for more personnel and technological support to streamline case processing (Source: https://youtu.be/O4f5eH0THWE&t=19297).

The testimony at this hearing underscored that the problems stemming from the current Discovery laws have not only led to longer case timelines but have also diminished the state’s ability to ensure justice for victims. According to DAs, many victims of serious crimes are left without resolution due to technical dismissals, which ultimately erodes trust in the judicial system (Source: https://youtu.be/O4f5eH0THWE&t=21426).

The assembly of officials and stakeholders at this budget hearing marks a crucial step in addressing these pressing challenges and calls for collaborative reform efforts to ensure that all New Yorkers receive justice in a timely manner.