Opinion
2014-05-9
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Frederick E. WALKER, Defendant–Appellant.
James S. Hinman, P.C., Rochester (James S. Hinman of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Frederick E. Walker, Defendant–Appellant Pro Se.
James S. Hinman, P.C., Rochester (James S. Hinman of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant. Frederick E. Walker, Defendant–Appellant Pro Se.
Sandra Doorley, District Attorney, Rochester (Stephen X. O'Brien of Counsel), for Respondent.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., FAHEY, LINDLEY, VALENTINO, and WHALEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Following the reconstruction hearing ordered by the Court of Appeals in People v. Walker, 18 N.Y.3d 839, 840, 938 N.Y.S.2d 838, 962 N.E.2d 261, Supreme Court concluded that defendant “failed to satisfy his burden of coming forward with substantial evidence establishing his absence” at the Sandoval hearing. We agree with defendant that the court erred in imposing the burden of proof on him at the reconstruction hearing.
Inasmuch as “ ‘[a] presumption of regularity attaches to judicial proceedings' ” ( People v. Cruz, 14 N.Y.3d 814, 816, 901 N.Y.S.2d 122, 927 N.E.2d 542), a defendant challenging the proceedings has the initial “burden of rebutting the presumption of regularity by substantial evidence” ( id.). In ordering the reconstruction hearing, the Court of Appeals held that defendant had rebutted the presumption of regularity and “satisfied his burden of showing that a reconstruction hearing is necessary to determine whether he was present during the Sandoval hearing” ( Walker, 18 N.Y.3d at 840, 938 N.Y.S.2d 838, 962 N.E.2d 261;see Cruz, 14 N.Y.3d at 816, 901 N.Y.S.2d 122, 927 N.E.2d 542).
At the reconstruction hearing, “the People ha[d] the burden of establishing the facts by a preponderance of the evidence” ( People v. Terry, 225 A.D.2d 1058, 1058, 639 N.Y.S.2d 215,lv. denied88 N.Y.2d 886, 645 N.Y.S.2d 461, 668 N.E.2d 432;see People v. Pitsley, 300 A.D.2d 1010, 1011, 752 N.Y.S.2d 575;People v. Goodman, 284 A.D.2d 928, 928, 727 N.Y.S.2d 920;see also People v. Durda, 265 A.D.2d 824, 824, 696 N.Y.S.2d 609,lv. denied94 N.Y.2d 862, 704 N.Y.S.2d 537, 725 N.E.2d 1099;People v. Nelson, 234 A.D.2d 977, 977, 652 N.Y.S.2d 184,lv. denied89 N.Y.2d 1039, 659 N.Y.S.2d 869, 681 N.E.2d 1316). We conclude that the People failed to meet their burden. We thereforereverse the order, vacate the judgment of conviction and grant a new trial.
The transcript of the trial establishes that defendant was not in the courtroom when the proceedings began. According to the transcript, defense counsel informed the court that she “just went back to see [defendant],” who was not dressed for court because the jail had lost his trial clothes. After being informed that the jail had also misplaced the trial clothes for the codefendant, the court stated, “I didn't come here today to spend my day waiting for clothes. Trust me. Any Sandoval?” The Sandoval hearing for both defendant and his codefendant was held, and the first indication in the record of defendant's presence is after the conclusion of that hearing. At the reconstruction hearing, the only witnesses to testify were defendant and his former attorney. Defendant denied that he was present during any discussion of his prior crimes, stating that it was during that time that he was returned to the jail, where he successfully located his missing clothes. Defendant's former attorney had no independent recollection of the events surrounding the Sandoval hearing. We thus conclude that the People failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that defendant was present at the Sandoval hearing ( see People v. Pitsley, 4 A.D.3d 841, 842, 771 N.Y.S.2d 407,lv. denied2 N.Y.3d 804, 781 N.Y.S.2d 303, 814 N.E.2d 475).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law, the judgment of conviction is vacated and a new trial is granted.