IN RE: THE STATE OF NEW YORK (2011)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs and a new trial is granted.

Memorandum:  Respondent previously appealed from an order pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law article 10 committing him to a secure treatment facility designated by the Commissioner of Mental Health based upon a jury finding that he is a detained sex offender with a mental abnormality that, inter alia, predisposes him to commit further sex offenses.   We concluded that the record was insufficient for us “to determine whether Supreme Court erred in relinquish [ing] control over the proceedings by permitting” the discharge of prospective jurors outside the presence of the trial judge (Matter of State of New York v. Muench, 68 AD3d 1677).   We therefore held the case, reserved decision and remitted the matter to Supreme Court for a reconstruction hearing.   Upon remittal, the parties stipulated to an order concluding that 22 prospective jurors were excused upon the authority of a commissioner of jurors without knowledge or input from the trial court, prior to the commencement of jury selection in court.

Although this Mental Hygiene Law article 10 proceeding is civil in nature and primarily governed by CPLR article 41 (see § 10.07[b] ), the Criminal Procedure Law governs challenges to prospective jurors in such proceedings (see id.;  CPL 270.20, 270.25[1] ).   The relevant section of the Criminal Procedure Law provides that the court must determine all issues of fact and, “[i]f [a] challenge [to a prospective juror] is allowed, the court must exclude the person challenged from service” (CPL 270.20[2] ).   Further, respondent's challenge with respect to the discharge of certain prospective jurors implicates his fundamental right to a jury trial (see Matter of State of New York v Kalchthaler, 82 AD3d 1672).   We note that “[t]he presence of and supervision by a[j]udge constitutes an integral component of the right to a jury trial ․ [Inasmuch as] the selection of the jury is part of the ․ trial ․, a [respondent] has a fundamental right to have a[j]udge preside over and supervise the voir dire proceedings while prospective jurors are being questioned regarding their qualifications.   A[j]udge who relinquishes control over the proceedings or delegates the duty to supervise deprives a [respondent] of the right to a trial by jury, requiring reversal” (People v. Toliver, 89 N.Y.2d 843, 844;  see People v. Bosa, 60 AD3d 571, 572, lv denied 12 NY3d 923).   Here, based on the procedures employed by the Fifth Judicial District Coordinating Commissioner of Jurors, 22 prospective jurors were excluded by that Commissioner rather than by the court.   Petitioner therefore correctly concedes that respondent's “fundamental right to have a[j]udge preside over and supervise the voir dire proceedings while prospective jurors are being questioned regarding their qualifications” was violated (Toliver, 89 N.Y.2d at 844).   We therefore reverse the order and grant a new trial.

Respondent failed to preserve for our review his further contentions concerning the constitutionality of Mental Hygiene Law article 10 (see generally People v. Baumann & Sons Buses, Inc., 6 NY3d 404, 408, rearg. denied 7 NY3d 742;  People v. Stuart, 100 N.Y.2d 412, 425–426 n 11;  People v. Davidson, 98 N.Y.2d 738, 739–740), the comments made by the Assistant Attorney General during his opening statement (see People v. Freeman, 46 AD3d 1375, 1376, lv denied 10 NY3d 840), and the use of hearsay testimony (see People v. Qualls, 55 N.Y.2d 733, 734;  People v. Bertone, 16 AD3d 710, 712, lv. denied 5 NY3d 759).   We decline to exercise our power to review those contentions in the interest of justice (see generally Matter of State of New York v Campany, 77 AD3d 92, 101, lv denied 15 NY3d 713).

Patricia L. Morgan

Clerk of the Court