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DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS UNAVOIDABLY DELAYED IN GETTING TO COURT AND SO INFORMED THE JUDGE; IN DEFENSE COUNSEL’S ABSENCE A JUROR REQUESTED TO BE DISCHARGED BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HER FRIEND’S SON; THE DISCHARGE OF THE JUROR WITHOUT DEFENSE COUNSEL’S CONSENT REQUIRED REVERSAL (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the defense motion for a mistrial should have been granted. Defense counsel, because of a child-care issue, informed the court she could not be there at 9 am but would arrive at court later in the morning. While defense counsel was absent, a juror requested to be discharged because of the sudden death of a family friend’s son. The judge discharged the juror. When defense counsel arrived she objected to the discharge of the juror without her consent and moved for a mistrial:

It is undisputed that the Supreme Court failed to adhere to the requirements of CPL 270.35. As a matter of procedure, the court, at a minimum, should have informed all parties of the substance of the inquiry and provided each side with an opportunity to be heard before making its determination to discharge the sworn juror. The court both conducted the inquiry and discharged the juror in the presence of the People and in the absence of defense counsel.

Although defense counsel was apprised with the actual specific contents of the jury note upon her arrival … , the Supreme Court’s procedural errors here were inherently prejudicial, as they deprived the defendant of an opportunity to be heard before giving meaningful notice of the contents of the note, conducting the inquiry, and discharging the juror as incapacitated … . People v Dean, 2026 NY Slip Op 01218, Second Dept 3-4-26

Practice Point: Here the discharge of a juror in defense counsel’s absence warranted a mistrial.

 

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