You are here: / / Trial Court’s Failure to Properly Characterize the Nature of the...

Trial Court’s Failure to Properly Characterize the Nature of the Jury’s Request for “Clarification” of Certain Counts Was a Reversible Mode of Proceedings Error

The Second Department determined Supreme Court committed a reversible mode of proceedings error when it mischaracterized the meaning of a jury note.  The note requested clarification of the criminal possession of a weapon counts.  The court explained the note as a request for a readback of the relevant jury instructions:

…[T]he jury requested “clarification on the counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the presence of the defendant, counsel, and the jury, the Supreme Court mischaracterized that note as asking “to have read to us the counts of” criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. In apprising counsel of the contents of that note, the Supreme Court omitted the word “clarification.” The court proceeded to provide the jury with certain legal instructions on the counts of criminal possession of weapon in the second degree. The jury’s request for “clarification” was not a request for a “mere ministerial readback” of the Supreme Court’s charge … . Meaningful notice of a jury’s note “means notice of the actual specific content of the jurors’ request. Manifestly, counsel cannot participate effectively or adequately protect the defendant’s rights if this specific information is not given” … . Under these circumstances, the Supreme Court’s mode of proceedings error requires reversal of the judgment and a new trial (see People v Patterson, 39 NY2d 288, 295-296). People v Thomas, 2014 NY Slip Op 02090, 2nd Dept 3-26-14

 

You might also like
SUPREME COURT PROPERLY LIMITED THE DEPOSITION QUESTIONING OF A DOCTOR IN THIS MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ACTION AND PROPERLY ORDERED THAT THE DEPOSITION BE SUPERVISED BECAUSE OF MISCONDUCT ON BOTH SIDES DURING A PRIOR DEPOSITION (SECOND DEPT).
IT WAS AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION TO DENY FATHER’S MOTION TO VACATE HIS DEFAULT IN THIS CUSTODY CASE; THE USUAL RULES FOR VACATION OF A DEFAULT ARE RELAXED IN CHILD CUSTODY MATTERS (SECOND DEPT).
COURT SHOULD NOT MAKE CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS OR WEIGH THE EVIDENCE AT THE SUMMARY JUDGMENT STAGE, DEFENDANTS’ SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DENIED.
EXCESSIVE INTERVENTION IN THE QUESTIONING OF DEFENDANT AND WITNESSES BY THE TRIAL JUDGE REQUIRED A NEW TRIAL, DEFENDANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS BEING INCARCERATED DURING THE TRIAL (SECOND DEPT).
JUDGES SHOULD NOT ASK A DEFENDANT WHETHER HE OR SHE IS A US CITIZEN IN PLEA PROCEEDINGS; RATHER JUDGES SHOULD INFORM ALL DEFENDANTS THE PLEA TO A FELONY MAY RESULT IN DEPORTATION IF HE OR SHE IS NOT A US CITIZEN (SECOND DEPT).
CAUSES OF ACTION AGAINST ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS AND COUNTY ALLEGING OBSTRUCTION OF SIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED.
DEFINITION OF ‘PARENT’ IS THE SAME FOR PARENTAL ACCESS AND CUSTODY; JUDICIAL ESTOPPEL AND COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL DOCTRINES PRECLUDED SUPREME COURT’S FINDING THAT FATHER DID NOT HAVE STANDING IN THE CUSTODY MATTER (SECOND DEPT).
PLAINTIFF BANK DID NOT PRESENT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF THE LOSS OF THE NOTE IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION; THE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2025 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

Knowledge of the Health Issue Underlying Plaintiff’s Claim, and Knowledge... Defendant Entitled to a Hearing on His Motion to Vacate His Conviction/Defense...