FAILURE TO READ JURY NOTE VERBATIM WAS A MODE OF PROCEEDINGS ERROR REQUIRING REVERSAL.
The Third Department determined the trial judge made a mode of proceedings error by failing to read to the parties, verbatim, a note from the jury:
… [W]e conclude that County Court committed a mode of proceedings error for which no objection was necessary … . The court had an affirmative obligation to read exhibit No. 5 verbatim so that the parties had the opportunity to accurately analyze the jury's question and frame intelligent suggestions for the court's response … . The record is devoid of any information as to whether defendant knew about the portion of exhibit No. 5 stating “# 8G 4NG.” The ambiguity of the notation is also of concern to this Court.
Although the parties requested that the court inquire as to whether the jury had reached a verdict and whether it was “complete,” we cannot speculate as to what defendant knew about exhibit No. 5 … . Furthermore, “we cannot assume that the omission was remedied at an off-the-record conference” … . Accordingly, as County Court committed a mode of proceedings error as to exhibit No. 5, we must remit for a new trial on counts 1 through 9 of the consolidated indictment. People v Victor, 2016 NY Slip Op 03551, 3rd Dept 5-5-16
CRIMINAL LAW (FAILURE TO READ JURY NOTE VERBATIM WAS A MODE OF PROCEEDINGS ERROR REQUIRING REVERSAL)/JURIES (CRIMINAL LAW, FAILURE TO READ JURY NOTE VERBATIM WAS A MODE OF PROCEEDINGS ERROR REQUIRING REVERSAL)
