The merger of the Bronx criminal and supreme courts has been deemed unconstitutional by an appeals court, raising doubts about the validity of thousands of misdemeanor convictions. In a ruling that could turn out overturning every misdemeanor conviction in the courthouse since 2004, the state Appellate Division determined that a judge didn't have the authority to make the merger, according to the Daily News. more ›

Brenna Stewart, the daughter of convicted so-called "terrorist lawyer" Lynne Stewart, is to undergo psychiatric testing after she was charged with providing phony doctors' notes claiming she was sick to get days off from her job as a gym teacher. Ironically, the fake notes, at least one of which she submitted to attend the sentencing of her mother, could land her in jail for up to seven years. Stewart was busted last year when an administrator at the school where she taught noticed that the phone number of the doctor's office on her notes was the same as that of Stewart's emergency contact number on file. Stewart's sister is an actual physician, but practices in Florida. more ›

You'd think that the marriage bureau at the Bronx Supreme Court would have learned its lesson, after the Post wrote about it closing early (without permission), dashing the dreams of a couple. But the bureau seems to be back to its old tricks, as the Post reveals two couples were turned away even though they arrived well before closing time. more ›

Anyone who has had to wait on line at any state or city agency will love this story. A couple went to the Bronx Supreme Court yesterday because they waned to get a marriage license. Jonathan Figueroa and Marjorie Lumbano waited on line for an hour and made it to the front by 3PM, well before the 4PM closing time. Only they were turned away because the workers were having a retirement party for a colleague. The Post got involved:

In vain, [the couple] tried knocking on other offices in the courthouse - until a court officer finally told them to seek help in the press room. more ›

A judge at Bronx Supreme Court was saved by a court clerk - who happens to moonlight as an FDNY medic - yesterday morning. Judge Berman Katz's had a heart attack while with some colleagues, and, luckily, clerk John McConnell was around. McConnell told the Daily News Katz "was very pale and slightly blue-looking," and McConnell used CPR, then defibrillators, and then CPR again to revive him. Katz, who retired in May, regained a strong pulse but was taken to Lincoln Hospital. more ›