Friday, December 12, 2008

This week, in People v Bennett (2008 NY Slip Op 09811 [2d Dept 12/09/08]), the Second Department overturned a rape conviction when the second-grade victim could only give a nine-month window for the date of the incident. The Court explained that while
a per se (nine-month) bar does not apply, a significantly lengthy period is a factor to be considered, with "proportionally heightened scrutiny" given to whether the People's inability to provide more precise times can be justified as against the important notice rights of the defendant (People v Sedlock, 8 NY3d at 539; People v Watt, 81 NY2d 772, 775).

At trial, the victim testified that the two incidents occurred about two weeks apart when she was in the middle of second grade. The first incident occurred when her mother was at the grocery store with the victim's brother. The second incident occurred when the mother took the brother to the doctor. The People should have inquired as to when the mother took the victim's brother to the doctor and/or should have sought to obtain the brother's medical records to narrow the time frame of the crimes as alleged. The defendant's ability to prepare a defense was further stymied by the fact that the victim testified that the incidents occurred in the middle of her second grade school year, which would have been during the winter, but the amended bill of particulars provided that the incidents occurred when the weather was warm. Under these circumstances, when the time period charged, namely seven months, approaches the nine-month period found to be per se unreasonable in People v Beauchamp (74 NY2d 639; see People v Sedlock, 8 NY3d at 538), the People are subjected to "proportionally heightened scrutiny" as to whether their inability to provide more precise times is justified (id at 539). There is no indication that the People inquired of the mother or of the doctor of the victim's brother regarding as to when the brother was treated.

As Assistant Monroe County Public Defender David Abbatoy (who brought Bennett to our attention) has noted, Bennett and the cases cited within make clear that the judge should not simply rely on the prosecutor's representations regarding the victim's intelligence,etc. The government should demonstrate its inability at a hearing. The judge should then make an independent determination as to whether more precise notice is required based on the complainant's age, etc. This should occur at a hearing with sworn testimony from the complainant. Perhaps we can call it a "Sedlock Hearing."
This week, in People v Bennett (2008 NY Slip Op 09811 [2d Dept 12/09/08]), the Second Department overturned a rape conviction when the second-grade victim could only give a nine-month window for the date of the incident. The Court explained that while
a per se (nine-month) bar does not apply, a significantly lengthy period is a factor to be considered, with "proportionally heightened scrutiny" given to whether the People's inability to provide more precise times can be justified as against the important notice rights of the defendant (People v Sedlock, 8 NY3d at 539; People v Watt, 81 NY2d 772, 775).

At trial, the victim testified that the two incidents occurred about two weeks apart when she was in the middle of second grade. The first incident occurred when her mother was at the grocery store with the victim's brother. The second incident occurred when the mother took the brother to the doctor. The People should have inquired as to when the mother took the victim's brother to the doctor and/or should have sought to obtain the brother's medical records to narrow the time frame of the crimes as alleged. The defendant's ability to prepare a defense was further stymied by the fact that the victim testified that the incidents occurred in the middle of her second grade school year, which would have been during the winter, but the amended bill of particulars provided that the incidents occurred when the weather was warm. Under these circumstances, when the time period charged, namely seven months, approaches the nine-month period found to be per se unreasonable in People v Beauchamp (74 NY2d 639; see People v Sedlock, 8 NY3d at 538), the People are subjected to "proportionally heightened scrutiny" as to whether their inability to provide more precise times is justified (id at 539). There is no indication that the People inquired of the mother or of the doctor of the victim's brother regarding as to when the brother was treated.

As Assistant Monroe County Public Defender David Abbatoy (who brought Bennett to our attention) has noted, Bennett and the cases cited within make clear that the judge should not simply rely on the prosecutor's representations regarding the victim's intelligence,etc. The government should demonstrate its inability at a hearing. The judge should then make an independent determination as to whether more precise notice is required based on the complainant's age, etc. This should occur at a hearing with sworn testimony from the complainant. Perhaps we can call it a "Sedlock Hearing."

Sunday, December 7, 2008

In two cases, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued rulings emphasizing the rights of defendants to cross-examine prosecution witnesses regarding evidence of their racial or ethnic bias.In Brinson v Walker (--- F.3d ----, 2008 WL 4890153 [2nd Cir 11/13/08])the court granted habeas corpus relief and vacated a New York state robbery conviction whee the New York trial judge precluded the black defendant from presenting evidence (both through cross examination and by extrinsic evidence) that the complainant harbored strong racial bias towards blacks. The Court first reviewed the evidentiary right to present evidence or bias and concluded that
where the racial bias sought to be exposed is of sufficient intensity that it is reasonably likely to result in the falsification of the witness's testimony against the accused, a preclusion of cross-examination on the ground that racial bias is general and not specifically directed against the defendant is an unreasonable application of Supreme Court decisional law.

Applying the five factor test set forth by the Supreme Court in Delaware v. Van Arsdall 475 U.S. 673 the Court ruled that the error was not harmless, given the critical role of the complainant's testimony and the absence of other means to establish this bias.

Similarly, in U.S. v. Figueroa --- F.3d ----, 2008 WL 4911158 [2nd Cir 11/18/08], the Court held that an Hispanic defendant's constitutional right to confrontation was violated when the federal district court judge precluded cross-examination of a prosecution witness about the witness's swastika tattoos. The Court explained a person choosing to have swastika tattoos tends to suggest that the person holds racial, religious, or ethnic biases and this evidence of bias is relevant and admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 402. However, given the other evidence of guilt, the Court found this erroneous violation of the right to confrontation to be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
In two cases, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued rulings emphasizing the rights of defendants to cross-examine prosecution witnesses regarding evidence of their racial or ethnic bias.In Brinson v Walker (--- F.3d ----, 2008 WL 4890153 [2nd Cir 11/13/08])the court granted habeas corpus relief and vacated a New York state robbery conviction whee the New York trial judge precluded the black defendant from presenting evidence (both through cross examination and by extrinsic evidence) that the complainant harbored strong racial bias towards blacks. The Court first reviewed the evidentiary right to present evidence or bias and concluded that
where the racial bias sought to be exposed is of sufficient intensity that it is reasonably likely to result in the falsification of the witness's testimony against the accused, a preclusion of cross-examination on the ground that racial bias is general and not specifically directed against the defendant is an unreasonable application of Supreme Court decisional law.

Applying the five factor test set forth by the Supreme Court in Delaware v. Van Arsdall 475 U.S. 673 the Court ruled that the error was not harmless, given the critical role of the complainant's testimony and the absence of other means to establish this bias.

Similarly, in U.S. v. Figueroa --- F.3d ----, 2008 WL 4911158 [2nd Cir 11/18/08], the Court held that an Hispanic defendant's constitutional right to confrontation was violated when the federal district court judge precluded cross-examination of a prosecution witness about the witness's swastika tattoos. The Court explained a person choosing to have swastika tattoos tends to suggest that the person holds racial, religious, or ethnic biases and this evidence of bias is relevant and admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 402. However, given the other evidence of guilt, the Court found this erroneous violation of the right to confrontation to be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

In People v Giles (2008 NY Slip Op 09433 [12/2/08]), the Court of Appeals issued an important decision regarding the application of Molineux. Specifically the Court held that even when evidence of other crimes may be relevant and admissible to some charged counts, the trial court in admitting such evidence is required to give that limiting instructions advising the jury that while the evidence may be relevant to some charges, it must not be considered regarding the other counts.

While the Court approved introduction of detailed evidence regarding how stolen property the defendant possessed came to be stolen, it disapproved the use of such evidence to show that unrelated activity was an attempted burglary. In reversing some counts, the court found that possession of the proceeds of prior burglaries "has no bearing other than to show that defendant is of a criminal bent or character and thus likely to have committed the crime charged" with regard to a currently charged attempted burglary. Thus, the Court held that the trial court
erred by failing to issue a limiting instruction to cure the potential
prejudicial effect of the evidence regarding the uncharged burglaries on the attempted burglary and possession of burglar's tools counts. Supreme Court should have advised the jury that it could consider the evidence for the possession of stolen property counts, but that it could not consider the prior burglaries with respect to the attempted burglary and possession of burglar's tools counts.

The Court also arguably acknowledged, sub silentio, that the viability of
the persistent felony statute is uncertain (it declined to reach the
issue), even though the Court of Appeals has consistently upheld the
statute against Apprendi (Apprendi v New Jersey, 530 US 466 [2000) claims
(see People v Rivera, 5 NY3d 61 [2005]. The post-Rivera decision of the
United States Supreme Court in Cunningham v California, 549 US 270 [2007] suggests that Rivera might not be the last word on the constitutionality of the New York persistent sentencing law.
In People v Giles (2008 NY Slip Op 09433 [12/2/08]), the Court of Appeals issued an important decision regarding the application of Molineux. Specifically the Court held that even when evidence of other crimes may be relevant and admissible to some charged counts, the trial court in admitting such evidence is required to give that limiting instructions advising the jury that while the evidence may be relevant to some charges, it must not be considered regarding the other counts.

While the Court approved introduction of detailed evidence regarding how stolen property the defendant possessed came to be stolen, it disapproved the use of such evidence to show that unrelated activity was an attempted burglary. In reversing some counts, the court found that possession of the proceeds of prior burglaries "has no bearing other than to show that defendant is of a criminal bent or character and thus likely to have committed the crime charged" with regard to a currently charged attempted burglary. Thus, the Court held that the trial court
erred by failing to issue a limiting instruction to cure the potential
prejudicial effect of the evidence regarding the uncharged burglaries on the attempted burglary and possession of burglar's tools counts. Supreme Court should have advised the jury that it could consider the evidence for the possession of stolen property counts, but that it could not consider the prior burglaries with respect to the attempted burglary and possession of burglar's tools counts.

The Court also arguably acknowledged, sub silentio, that the viability of
the persistent felony statute is uncertain (it declined to reach the
issue), even though the Court of Appeals has consistently upheld the
statute against Apprendi (Apprendi v New Jersey, 530 US 466 [2000) claims
(see People v Rivera, 5 NY3d 61 [2005]. The post-Rivera decision of the
United States Supreme Court in Cunningham v California, 549 US 270 [2007] suggests that Rivera might not be the last word on the constitutionality of the New York persistent sentencing law.