People v. Bell

940 N.E.2d 913, 15 N.Y.3d 935, 915 N.Y.S.2d 208

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed. Defendant challenges his adjudication as a persistent violent felony offender (Penal Law § 70.08), contending that the procedure called for by CPL 400.15 and 400.16 deprives him of his constitutional right to trial by jury. Defendant’s argument is barred by Almendarez-Torres v United States (523 US 224 [1998]), which permits sentencing proceedings in which the fact of previous criminal convictions is found by a court sitting without a jury. Though several of our recent cases rely on Almendarez-Torres’s holding (see People v Quinones, 12 NY3d 116 [2009]; People v Rivera, 5 NY3d 61 [2005]; People v Rosen, 96 NY2d 329 [2001]), defendant now invites us to reject it, and to hold that the New York State Constitution requires all facts that may enhance a defendant’s sentence, including the fact of a prior conviction, to be found by a jury. Defendant would thus have us go beyond the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Apprendi v New Jersey (530 US 466 [2000]) and later decisions applying Apprendi.

We decline defendant’s invitation. We see no reason to hold that the right of trial by jury under article I, § 2 of our Constitution is broader in this respect than the jury trial right protected by the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Defendant’s claim in his pro se brief that he was deprived of his right to a speedy trial is unpreserved. His remaining contentions are without merit.

Chief Judge Lippman and Judges Cipajrick, Graffeo, Read, Smith, Pigott and Jones concur.

Order affirmed in a memorandum.