PEOPLE v. SMITH (2008)

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the County Court, Westchester County (Bellantoni, J.), rendered June 14, 2006, convicting him of assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (two counts), and reckless endangerment in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is reversed, on the law, and a new trial is ordered.

The defendant is entitled to reversal and a new trial based upon the trial court's error in denying his challenge for cause to a prospective juror.   The juror indicated during voir dire that he believed he was present at a press conference when the defendant's arrest was announced, he knew the District Attorney of Westchester County socially, he was personal friends with the Assistant District Attorney who had been assigned to the case before trial, and he might know some of the police officers who would be testifying for the People.   Trial courts should lean toward disqualifying prospective jurors of dubious impartiality, and considering all of these circumstances, the defendant's challenge for cause as to this juror should have been granted (see People v. Rentz, 67 N.Y.2d 829, 501 N.Y.S.2d 643, 492 N.E.2d 771;  People v. Branch, 46 N.Y.2d 645, 415 N.Y.S.2d 985, 389 N.E.2d 467;  People v. Maldonado, 278 A.D.2d 513, 718 N.Y.S.2d 387;  People v. Clark, 125 A.D.2d 868, 510 N.Y.S.2d 223).

The defendant's remaining contentions have been rendered academic or are without merit.