DEFENDANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO PROCEED PRO SE ON THE PEOPLE’S MOTION TO COMPEL A BUCCAL SWAB FOR DNA TESTING (FOURTH DEPT).
The Fourth Department determined Supreme Court should not have required defendant to proceed pro se on the People’s motion to compel him to submit to a buccal swab for DNA testing:
We … agree with defendant that the court erred in requiring him to proceed pro se on the People’s motion to compel him to submit to a buccal swab for DNA testing … . Contrary to the People’s contention, the court’s error cannot be deemed harmless, inasmuch as the evidence apart from the DNA evidence is not overwhelming, and there is a reasonable possibility that the error contributed to the conviction … . We therefore hold the case, reserve decision, and remit the matter to Supreme Court for further proceedings on the People’s motion following the assignment of counsel to represent defendant thereon. People v Pressley, 2018 NY Slip Op 02114, Fourth Dept 3-23-18
CRIMINAL LAW (ATTORNEYS, DEFENDANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO PROCEED PRO SE ON THE PEOPLE’S MOTION TO COMPEL A BUCCAL SWAB FOR DNA TESTING (FOURTH DEPT))/ATTORNEYS (CRIMINAL LAW, DEFENDANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO PROCEED PRO SE ON THE PEOPLE’S MOTION TO COMPEL A BUCCAL SWAB FOR DNA TESTING (FOURTH DEPT))/EVIDENCE (CRIMINAL LAW, BUCCAL SWAB, DNA, DEFENDANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO PROCEED PRO SE ON THE PEOPLE’S MOTION TO COMPEL A BUCCAL SWAB FOR DNA TESTING (FOURTH DEPT))/BUCCAL SWAB (CRIMINAL LAW, DNA, DEFENDANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO PROCEED PRO SE ON THE PEOPLE’S MOTION TO COMPEL A BUCCAL SWAB FOR DNA TESTING (FOURTH DEPT))/DNA (CRIMINAL LAW, BUCCAL SWAB, ATTORNEYS, DEFENDANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO PROCEED PRO SE ON THE PEOPLE’S MOTION TO COMPEL A BUCCAL SWAB FOR DNA TESTING (FOURTH DEPT))