FOR CAUSE CHALLENGE TO JUROR SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED, CONVICTION REVERSED (FIRST DEPT).
The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the for cause challenge to a juror should have been granted:
The court improvidently exercised its discretion in denying defendant’s challenge for cause to a prospective juror who repeatedly expressed a predisposition to credit police testimony, and a belief that innocent defendants would testify on their own behalf, since the totality of his responses established that he would be unable to put aside his inclinations and be fair and impartial … . At no point did the panelist give an unequivocal assurance that he would put aside his beliefs and concerns and render an impartial verdict … . People v Brith, 2018 NY Slip Op 07250, First Dept 10-30-18
CRIMINAL LAW (FOR CAUSE CHALLENGE TO JUROR SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED, CONVICTION REVERSED (FIRST DEPT))/JURORS (CRIMINAL LAW, (FOR CAUSE CHALLENGE TO JUROR SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED, CONVICTION REVERSED (FIRST DEPT))/FOR CAUSE CHALLENGE (CRIMINAL LAW, (FOR CAUSE CHALLENGE TO JUROR SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED, CONVICTION REVERSED (FIRST DEPT))