The Court of Appeals, reversing the appellate division, determined the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied defense counsel's for cause challenge to a juror. The court's questioning of the juror, which referenced questions just asked of another juror, was sufficient to ensure the juror would render a verdict based on the evidence and the law:
Under the circumstances of this case — including the trial court's direct reference to the questions it had asked of juror No. 123, which called to juror No. 383's attention her previously stated bias — the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying defendant's for-cause challenge to the prospective juror based on her subsequent unequivocal assurances of impartiality … . Viewing prospective juror No. 383's statements in totality and in context … , her assurances to the court adequately expressed her ability and willingness to adhere to her obligation to acquit defendant if the evidence required her to do so and established that she would render an impartial verdict untainted by any aforementioned bias or sympathy. “[T]he CPL . . . does not require any particular expurgatory oath or 'talismanic' words” to resolve doubt about a potential juror's ability to be fair… and, here, the trial court had the discretion to deny defendant's for-cause challenge to the prospective juror … . People v Warrington, 2016 NY Slip Op 08584, CtApp 12-22-16
CRIMINAL LAW (DENIAL OF DEFENSE COUNSEL'S FOR CAUSE CHALLENGE TO A JUROR WAS NOT AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION, APPELLATE DIVISION REVERSED)/JURORS (CRIMINAL LAW, DENIAL OF DEFENSE COUNSEL'S FOR CAUSE CHALLENGE TO A JUROR WAS NOT AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION, APPELLATE DIVISION REVERSED)/FOR CAUSE CHALLENGE (DENIAL OF DEFENSE COUNSEL'S FOR CAUSE CHALLENGE TO A JUROR WAS NOT AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION, APPELLATE DIVISION REVERSED)