You are here: / / PROSECUTION’S USE OF EVIDENCE OF DEFENDANT’S POST-ARREST SILENCE...
, ,

PROSECUTION’S USE OF EVIDENCE OF DEFENDANT’S POST-ARREST SILENCE VIOLATED DEFENDANT’S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION; THE ERROR WAS DEEMED HARMLESS HOWEVER.

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Rivera, over a dissenting opinion by Judge Pigott (who adopted the dissent by Justice Garry in the Appellate Division), determined that the prosecution’s proof of defendant’s post-Miranda silence as he was being transported by the police violated defendant’s due process rights under the state constitution. The error, however, was deemed harmless because the court found there was no reasonable possibility the error contributed to defendant’s conviction. The defendant’s conviction was therefore upheld. The defendant acknowledged commission of the crimes (two murders) but raised the extreme emotional disturbance (EED) defense. The Court of Appeals held that evidence of defendant’s silence upon arrest, which apparently was aimed at disproving or calling into question the EED defense, did not contribute to the jury’s rejection of the EED defense. The opinion includes extensive discussions of the use of evidence of a defendant’s silence and the related violation of state constitutional rights, the EED proof requirements, and ineffective assistance of counsel. People v Pavone, 2015 NY Slip Op 09315, CtApp 12-17-15

CRIMINAL LAW (PRESENTING EVIDENCE OF DEFENDANT’S POST-ARREST SILENCE VIOLATED DEFENDANT’S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION)/EVIDENCE (PRESENTING EVIDENCE OF DEFENDANT’S POST-ARREST SILENCE VIOLATED DEFENDANT’S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION)/SILENCE (PRESENTING EVIDENCE OF DEFENDANT’S POST-ARREST SILENCE VIOLATED DEFENDANT’S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION)

You might also like
BEFORE CONSENTING TO A BREATHALYZER BLOOD-ALCOHOL TEST IN THIS DWI CASE, MORE THAN TWO HOURS AFTER DEFENDANT’S ARREST, DEFENDANT WAS INACCURATELY TOLD A TEST REFUSAL WOULD BE ADMISSIBLE AT TRIAL, DEFENDANT’S CONSENT TO THE TEST WAS THEREFORE NOT VOLUNTARY, EVIDENCE PROPERLY SUPPRESSED (CT APP).
THE DEFENDANT WAS REPRESENTED AT TRIAL BUT REPRESENTED HIMSELF IN PRETRIAL PROCEEDINGS; THE JUDGE NEVER ADEQUATELY EXPLAINED THE RISKS OF REPRESENTING ONESELF OR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ATTORNEY ACTING AS A “LEGAL ADVISOR” TO THE DEFENDANT AND AN ATTORNEY WHO “REPRESENTS” THE DEFENDANT; CONVICTION REVERSED AND MATTER REMITTED TO REPEAT PRETRIAL PROCEEDINGS (CT APP).
UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONAL ERROR STANDARD, HEARSAY STATEMENTS ADMITTED IN THIS ATTEMPTED MURDER AND FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT TRIAL CONSTITUTED HARMLESS ERROR, CRITERIA EXPLAINED (CT APP).
NYS OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION DID NOT EXCEED ITS AUTHORITY WHEN IT PROHIBITED SMOKING IN SOME SMALL PARKS WITHIN NEW YORK CITY AND ON A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE 330,000-ACRE PARK SYSTEM.
Consecutive Sentences for Possession of Weapon and the Crime Committed Later with the Weapon Okay
THE TOWN LAW STATUTE WHICH AUTHORIZES A TOWN TO REGULATE THE DISCHARGE OF “FIREARMS” DOES NOT AUTHORIZE A TOWN TO REGULATE THE DISCHARGE OF “BOWS” (CT APP).
THE UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICY AT ISSUE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO INSURANCE LAW 3203(A)(2) WHICH REQUIRES A PROPORTIONAL REFUND WHEN THE INSURED DIES DURING THE PREMIUM PERIOD (CT APP).
NYC POLICE OFFICERS IN THE TIER 3 RETIREMENT SYSTEM ARE ENTITLED TO CREDIT FOR PERIODS OF UNPAID CHILDCARE LEAVE (CT APP).

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 © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

HEARSAY STATEMENT BY AN UNAVAILABLE WITNESS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADMITTED AS A STATEMENT... PLAINTIFF IN PERSONAL INJURY ACTION NOT REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE (1) FACEBOOK PHOTOGRAPHS...