People v. Allen

Decision Date28 January 1963
Citation238 N.Y.S.2d 70,18 A.D.2d 840
PartiesThe PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. John ALLEN, Appellant.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Leon J. Kesner, Brooklyn, for appellant.

Edward S. Silver, Dist. Atty., Brooklyn, for respondent, Wm. I. Siegel, Brooklyn, of counsel.

Before BELDOCK, P. J., and UGHETTA, BRENNAN, HILL and HOPKINS, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.

In a coram nobis proceeding, defendant appeals from an order of the former County Court, Kings County, dated April 10, 1962, which denied, without a hearing, his application to vacate a judgment of said court, rendered March 12, 1957 after a jury trial, convicting him of first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, and second-degree grand larceny, and sentencing him to serve a term of 10 to 20 years, plus 5 to 10 years for being armed. The additional punishment was struck out on appeal (5 A.D.2d 696, 169 N.Y.S.2d 502).

Order affirmed.

At defendant's first trial in October, 1956, a jury was impaneled and sworn and opening statements were made. However, a mistrial was declared before any evidence was given or any witness sworn. The question of former jeopardy was not raised at defendant's second trial in January, 1957. The present application for coram nobis is made on the ground that the 1957 conviction is void because of double jeopardy.

It is not necessary here to determine whether a prisoner is placed in jeopardy when a jury has been examined and sworn, and evidence given (People ex rel. Meyer v. Warden, 269 N.Y. 426, 199 N.E. 647; Matter of Nolan v. Court of Gen. Sessions, 15 A.D.2d 78, 82, 222 N.Y.S.2d 635, 639; King v. People, 5 Hun 297, 299); or whether he is placed in jeopardy as soon as the jury has been impaneled and sworn (People ex rel. Rosebrough v. Casey, 251 App.Div. 867, 297 N.Y.S. 13; People ex rel. Bullock v. Hayes, 166 App.Div. 507, 510, 151 N.Y.S. 1075, 1077, affd. 215 N.Y. 172, 109 N.Y.S. 77; 1 Cooley's Constitutional Limitations [8th ed.] pp. 686-687). Regardless of which rule may be correct, the defendant here waived his right to argue double jeopardy when he failed to raise the question at his second trial (People v. Cignarale 110 N.Y. 23, 29, 17 N.E. 135, 141; People v. McGrath, 202 N.Y. 445, 96 N.E. 92; People ex rel. Hetenyi v. Johnston, 10 A.D.2d 121, 198 N.Y.S.2d 18). In any event, the question of double jeopardy was a matter of record, and matters of record cannot be a basis for relief by way of coram nobis (...

To continue reading

Request your trial
7 cases
  • People v. La Ruffa
    • United States
    • New York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • 11 d3 Junho d3 1975
    ...N.Y.S.2d 190, aff'd 24 N.Y.2d 949, 302 N.Y.S.2d 584, 250 N.E.2d 71; People v. Lynch, 40 A.D.2d 856, 337 N.Y.S.2d 763; People v. Allen, 18 A.D.2d 840, 238 N.Y.S.2d 70.) The reliance placed by defendant on Robinson v. Neil (409 U.S. 505, 93 S.Ct. 876, 35 L.Ed.2d 29), we think is misplaced. Th......
  • People v. Michael
    • United States
    • New York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • 10 d2 Julho d2 1979
    ...N.Y.S.2d 190, aff'd 24 N.Y.2d 949, 302 N.Y.S.2d 584, 250 N.E.2d 71; People v. Lynch, 40 A.D.2d 856, 337 N.Y.S.2d 763; People v. Allen, 18 A.D.2d 840, 238 N.Y.S.2d 70.)" Today, the majority without paying so much as lip service to principles of Stare decisis (see Baden v. Staples, 45 N.Y.2d ......
  • People ex rel. Pendleton v. Smith
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 5 d5 Novembro d5 1976
    ...be held to have waived the right to claim double jeopardy where he has failed to raise the question at his second trial (People v. Allen, 18 A.D.2d 840, 238 N.Y.S.2d 70). Nevertheless, the constitutional immunity from double jeopardy is so distinctive that 'its practical result is to preven......
  • People ex rel. Pendleton v. Smith, C--50
    • United States
    • New York County Court
    • 16 d3 Julho d3 1975
    ...the prisoner attempts to raise the double jeopardy question for the first time. Courts have generally resisted this. People v. Allen, 18 A.D.2d 840, 238 N.Y.S.2d 70; People ex rel. Williams v. Follette, 30 A.D.2d 693, 292 N.Y.S.2d 190, Affirmed 24 N.Y.2d 949, 302 N.Y.S.2d 584, 250 N.E.2d 71......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT