MONTICELLO, N.Y. – In a case where a defendant allegedly committed and confessed to murders in two different counties, a ruling from one trial judge sealing the record and gagging the press is not binding on the other jurist, a judge in Sullivan County has held.
Sullivan County Judge Frank J. LaBuda said in People v. Ronald Caruso that even though he is not bound by an Essex County colleague’s order involving the same defendant and the interwoven confession of crimes in different jurisdictions, “judicial comity” requires that he respect the other ruling. Consequently, Judge LaBuda said that records and proceedings in Sullivan County will be open to the public, except those portions dealing with the Essex County crime.
