People v. Hambrick

• Decision Date: 20 June 2012
• Citation: 947 N.Y.S.2d 139,2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 05021,96 A.D.3d 972
• Parties: The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Jazzy HAMBRICK, appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

96 A.D.3d 972

947 N.Y.S.2d 139

2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 05021

The PEOPLE, etc., respondent,

v.Jazzy HAMBRICK, appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.

June 20, 2012.

Lynn W.L. Fahey, New York, N.Y. (Lisa Napoli of counsel), for appellant.

Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (Gary Fidel, Jill Gross–Marks, and Edward D. Saslaw of counsel), for respondent.

MARK C. DILLON, J.P., RANDALL T. ENG, LEONARD B. AUSTIN, and SANDRA L. SGROI, JJ.

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Knopf, J.), rendered October 28, 2009, convicting him of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree (two counts) and assault in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.

The defendant failed to preserve for appellate review his contention that, notwithstanding his own counsel's request for a mistrial, a demonstration of “manifest necessity” was required prior to the declaration of a mistrial in his first trial. The defendant also failed to preserve for appellate review his contention that, in fact, no such “manifest necessity” for a mistrial was established and that, as such, double jeopardy barred his retrial ( seeCPL 470.05[2]; People v. Hay, 73 A.D.3d 1081, 900 N.Y.S.2d 651). In any event, these contentions are without merit.

“[W]hen a mistrial is granted over the defendant's objection or without the defendant's consent, double jeopardy will, as a general rule, bar retrial” (Matter of Davis v. Brown, 87 N.Y.2d 626, 630, 641 N.Y.S.2d 819, 664 N.E.2d 884). “Conversely, when the defendant requests or consents to a mistrial, double jeopardy typically erects no barrier to a retrial” ( id. at 630, 641 N.Y.S.2d 819, 664 N.E.2d 884). Here, although the defendant personally disagreed with the declaration of a mistrial, his counsel requested a mistrial on the ground that several members of the jury had impermissibly discussed the specifics of the case and had potentially been biased by the predeliberation discussions. Having accepted the assistance of counsel, a defendant retains authority over certain fundamental decisions. Those decisions that have traditionally been considered to be fundamental include whether to accept a plea of guilty, waive a jury trial, testify in one's own behalf, or take an appeal ( see Jones v. Barnes, 463 U.S. 745, 103 S.Ct. 3308, 77 L.Ed.2d 987). “Strategic and tactical decisions entrusted to counsel include which jurors to accept or strike, which witnesses should be called on the defendant's behalf, what evidence should be introduced, whether to object to the admission of evidence, whether and how a witness should be cross-examined, and whether to consent to a mistrial” ( People v. Colville, 79 A.D.3d 189, 198, 909 N.Y.S.2d 463,lv. granted17 N.Y.3d 793, 929 N.Y.S.2d 101, 952 N.E.2d 1096). Thus, the defendant's personal consent to a mistrial was not necessary, and his counsel's decision to move for a mistrial was binding on the defendant ( id. at 198, 909 N.Y.S.2d 463;see generally People v. Henriquez, 3 N.Y.3d 210, 227, 785 N.Y.S.2d 384, 818 N.E.2d 1125).

In any event, contrary to the defendant's contention, neither the defendant's nor his counsel's consent to a mistrial was required, since there was a showing of “manifest necessity” to declare a mistrial based upon juror bias ( People v. Michael, 48 N.Y.2d 1, 9, 420 N.Y.S.2d 371, 394 N.E.2d 1134 [internal quotation marks omitted] ). Initially, “[s]ince the Trial Judge is in the best position to determine whether a mistrial is in fact necessary in a particular case, that court is entrusted with discretion in this area, and deference is to be accorded the Trial Judge's decision to declare a mistrial” ( id. at 9, 420 N.Y.S.2d 371, 394 N.E.2d 1134). “[T]he trial judge's evaluation of the likelihood that the impartiality of one or more jurors...