State Supreme Court Justice Richard Mott ordered the state's parole board to swiftly grant Hank Morris a new parole hearing, finding the board "inexplicably" failed to fairly consider several factors in Morris's favor, including its own internal evaluation which indicates that Morris is no threat to society, and unjustly manipulated the process to keep him in prison for as long as possible. "Specifically, the record demonstrates that the board inexplicably failed to consider and weigh myriad relevant factors, all of which categorically supported petitioner's release on parole."
The new hearing took place yesterday, on April 22. Morris was granted parole and will be paroled by June 3.
Morris told parole commissioners that after his release he intends to work with not-for-profit agencies advocating parole reform. "I think there's a crying need for it," he said.
Related articles:
Reversing Course, Parole Board Set to Release Morris, by John Caher (New York Law Journal, April 24 2013)
After a Productive Two Years, Hank Morris Wins His Freedom, by Jacob Gershman (Wall Street Journal Law Blog, April 23 2013) (Includes a transcript of Morris's parole hearing)
Hank Morris, who aided corruption of disgraced ex-Controller Alan Hevesi, being freed in June, by Kenneth Lovett (New York Daily News, April 24 2013)
Breaking News: Hank Morris Wins Parole, by Ken Lovett (New York Daily News, April 23 2013)
Update: Hank Morris wins parole, out by June 3, by Chris Churchill (Timesunion.com, April 23 2013) (Includes Morris's Parole Board decision and release conditions)
Hank Morris wins parole, will be out by June 3, by Casey Seiler (Capitol Confidential, April 23 2013)
Parole Granted for Consultant in Corruption Case, by Jesse McKinley (New York Times, April 23 2013)
For further details of the case and earlier articles, see:
Hank Morris challenges parole compliance with the law (Parole News, April 19 2013)
