From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

People v. Burns

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Mar 31, 1986
118 A.D.2d 864 (N.Y. App. Div. 1986)

Summary

In People v. Burns (118 A.D.2d 864), the trial court replaced a juror with an alternate so that the juror could go on vacation.

Summary of this case from People v. John

Opinion

March 31, 1986

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Queens County (O'Brien, J.).


Judgment affirmed.

The defendant contends that his right to a jury trial was violated when the trial court replaced a juror with an alternate so that the juror could go on vacation. The alleged error has not been preserved for review because the defendant did not object to the substitution (CPL 470.05), but, rather, stated "it is up to the discretion of the judge". Such a decision was within the Trial Judge's broad discretion, under CPL 270.35, to discharge a juror if he was "unable to continue serving by reason of illness or other incapacity, or for any other reason [was] unavailable for continued service" (see, People v. Pierce, 97 A.D.2d 904, 905). We further note that there is no indication that the defendant was denied a fair trial as a result of the substitution.

Nor did the prosecutor's remarks, albeit unprofessional and unwarranted, amount to reversible error in light of the overwhelming evidence of the defendant's guilt (see, People v Schramm, 92 A.D.2d 905). However, this court views unfavorably the prosecutor's riding roughshod over the court's rulings and admonitions and showing complete disrespect for the court.

Finally, we do not find the sentence excessive in light of the defendant's numerous prior arrests and convictions and the indications that he "specialized" in armed robbery. Mangano, J.P., Gibbons, Niehoff and Kunzeman, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

People v. Burns

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department
Mar 31, 1986
118 A.D.2d 864 (N.Y. App. Div. 1986)

In People v. Burns (118 A.D.2d 864), the trial court replaced a juror with an alternate so that the juror could go on vacation.

Summary of this case from People v. John
Case details for

People v. Burns

Case Details

Full title:THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Respondent, v. JOHN BURNS, Appellant

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Second Department

Date published: Mar 31, 1986

Citations

118 A.D.2d 864 (N.Y. App. Div. 1986)

Citing Cases

People v. Washington

While the issue had not been preserved for appellate review, nevertheless, the Appellate Division expressed…

People v. Thompson

The defendant's contention in this regard is without merit. The decision to discharge the juror was within…