People v. Smith

New York Court of Appeals

People v. Smith

488 N.E.2d 109, 66 N.Y.2d 755, 497 N.Y.S.2d 363, 1985 N.Y. LEXIS 17646

CourtNew York Court of Appeals

DecidedOctober 24, 1985

StatusPublished

Cited by10 cases

This text of 488 N.E.2d 109 (People v. Smith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

People v. Smith, 488 N.E.2d 109, 66 N.Y.2d 755, 497 N.Y.S.2d 363, 1985 N.Y. LEXIS 17646 (N.Y. 1985).

Pincite

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed and the case remitted to the Appellate Division for consideration of the facts (CPL 470.40 [2] [b]; 470.25 [2] [d]).

Defendant was present when his case was assigned to Trial Part and was made aware by the assigning judge’s instructions that should the parties run out of witnesses at the pretrial hearing, requiring that the hearing be adjourned, the trial was to begin at that point, or, in any event, immediately following the conclusion of the hearing. Thus, by absconding after the third day of the hearing, defendant forfeited his right to be present at trial (People v Sanchez, 65 NY2d 436).

Chief Judge Wachtler and Judges Jasen, Meyer, Simons, Kaye, Alexander and Titone concur.

On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.4 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.4), order reversed and case remitted to the Appellate Division, First Department, for further proceedings in accordance with the memorandum herein.

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