You are here: / / “For Cause” Challenges to Jurors Who Could Only Say They Would...

“For Cause” Challenges to Jurors Who Could Only Say They Would “Try” to Be Fair Should Have Been Granted

The Second Department reversed defendant’s conviction because “for cause” challenges to jurors were denied.  The jurors, who had been victims of crime, could only say they would “try” to be fair:

CPL 270.20(1)(b) provides that a prospective juror may be challenged for cause if the juror “has a state of mind that is likely to preclude him [or her] from rendering an impartial verdict based upon the evidence adduced at the trial.” Where an issue is raised concerning the ability of a prospective juror to be fair and impartial, the prospective juror must state unequivocally that his or her prior state of mind will not influence his or her verdict, and that he or she will render an impartial verdict based solely on the evidence … . “A prospective juror’s responses construed as a whole, must demonstrate an absolute belief that his [or her] opinion will not influence his [or her] verdict'” … .

Here, during voir dire, two prospective jurors indicated that due to incidents in which they had been the victims of crimes, they were unsure whether they could be objective or impartial. The first prospective juror indicated that he had been “attacked more than once” by gangs in the past, and that the experience colored his opinion of gang members. When pressed, he repeatedly stated that he could only “try” to be fair and impartial. The second prospective juror at issue indicated that he had been the victim of a robbery 11 years earlier, and as a result, moved from Brooklyn to Queens. When asked if that was going to affect his ability to be fair, the juror responded, “I’m not sure, probably not.” He subsequently stated, “I will try my best.” The trial court denied for-cause challenges to the prospective jurors and, since the defense had exhausted all of its peremptory challenges, the second prospective juror at issue was seated.

At no point did the prospective jurors unequivocally state that their prior states of mind would not influence their verdict, and that they would render an impartial verdict based solely on the evidence. Under the circumstances, the trial court should have granted the defendant’s challenges for cause … . People v Garcia, 2015 NY Slip Op 01468, 2nd Dept 2-18-15

Same issue and result in People v Reyes, 2015 NY Slip Op 01473, 2nd Dept 2-18-15

 

You might also like
A SELLER WHO BREACHES OR SABOTAGES A REAL ESTATE PURCHASE AGREEMENT CANNOT RELY ON REMEDY LIMITATION CLAUSES TO PRECLUDE A BUYER’S ACTION FOR SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE (SECOND DEPT).
ALTHOUGH PLAINTIFF FAILED TO TIE OFF HIS LANYARD, THAT FAILURE WAS NOT THE SOLE PROXIMATE CAUSE OF HIS INJURY; PLAINTIFF FELL WHEN A PLANK ON THE SCAFFOLD BROKE; PLAINTIFF SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARDED SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON THE LABOR LAW 240(1) CAUSE OF ACTION (SECOND DEPT).
FAILURE TO USE FEDERAL EXPRESS’S OVERNIGHT DELIVERY RENDERED SERVICE UNTIMELY, EVEN THOUGH SERVICE WOULD HAVE BEEN TIMELY IF THE PAPERS HAD BEEN MAILED (SECOND DEPT).
Conveyance Was For Convenience (Getting a Loan) and Was Not a Gift—Property Therefore Remained in Decedent’s Estate
STATUTE ALLOWING PROPERTY OWNERS TO CHOOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS DOES NOT APPLY TO CONDOMINIUMS WHICH LIE ON THE BORDER BETWEEN TWO DISTRICTS.
MOTHER BROUGHT A MANDAMUS-TO-COMPEL PROCEEDING TO REQUIRE THE SUPPORT MAGISTRATE TO HOLD A SUPPORT-ORDER-VIOLATION HEARING WITHIN THE TIME-LIMIT SET IN THE UNIFORM RULES FOR FAMILY COURT; THE APPEAL WAS HEARD AS AN EXCEPTION TO THE MOOTNESS DOCTRINE BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS LIKELY TO RECUR; THE SECOND DEPARTMENT HELD THE SUPPORT MAGISTRATE HAD THE DISCRETION TO ADJOURN THE MATTER BEYOND THE DEADLINE SET IN THE UNIFORM RULES, DESPITE THE MANDATORY LANGUAGE IN THE RULE (SECOND DEPT).
THE DESIGNATING PETITIONS INCLUDED THE NAMES OF CANDIDATES WHO DID NOT AGREE TO BE LISTED; THE PETITIONS WERE THEREFORE PROPERLY INVALIDATED ON THE GROUND OF FRAUD (SECOND DEPT).
Failure to Cooperate In Formulating Mental Health Treatment Plan for Child Constituted Neglec

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

Criteria for Determining Motions to Dismiss Affirmative Defenses Explained Criteria for a Valid Warrantless Search of a Home Pursuant to the Emergency...