Levenson v. Lippman
This case addresses whether the Chief Administrative Judge exceeded his authority by amending 22 NYCRR 127.2 (b) to permit administrative judges to review and modify trial judges' awards of compensation to assigned counsel that exceed statutory limits. Plaintiffs, assigned counsel, challenged the amendment, arguing it unconstitutionally created an appellate court by transferring review power. The Supreme Court upheld the amendment, finding the Chief Administrative Judge acted within constitutional and statutory authority. The Appellate Division reversed, but this Court reversed the Appellate Division, reinstating the Supreme Court's judgment. The Court affirmed that such compensation awards are administrative acts not subject to judicial review, and the amendment validly fills an administrative gap, thus upholding the Chief Administrative Judge's regulatory power.