People v. Kelly

Decision Date28 February 1963
Citation189 N.E.2d 477,238 N.Y.S.2d 934,12 N.Y.2d 248
Parties, 189 N.E.2d 477 The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Appellant, v. Martin KELLY and Howard Koenig, Respondents.
CourtNew York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals

Frank D. O'Connor, Dist. Atty. (Benj. J. Jacobson, Long Island City, of counsel), for appellant.

Sidney G. Sparrow, Kew Gardens, and Robert E. Sparrow, Jamaica, for respondents.

DESMOND, Chief Judge.

The order should be affirmed. However, some of the statements in the opinion of the intermediate court (former Appellate Part of Special Sessions) prompt us to elaborate somewhat on the jurisdictional and procedural questions there discussed.

The Appellate Part correctly held (see People v. Loria, 10 N.Y.2d 368, 223 N.Y.S.2d 462, 179 N.E.2d 478) that the exclusionary doctrine of Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643, 81 S.Ct. 1684, 6 L.Ed.2d 1081, applies to criminal causes tried before the Mapp ruling. The court next stated that 'the absence of exception to the admissibility of the offending evidence in the trial court is not a bar to a review' and that failure to voice such an exception is not a waiver of the law point. Taken at its fullest, the second of those statements is contrary to People v. Coffey, 11 N.Y.2d 142, 227 N.Y.S.2d 412, 182 N.E.2d 92; People v. O'Neill, 11 N.Y.2d 148, 227 N.Y.S.2d 416, 182 N.E.2d 95, and People v. Friola, 11 N.Y.2d 157, 227 N.Y.S.2d 423, 182 N.E.2d 100, which hold that in the Court of Appeals the illegal evidence point is unavailable when it has not been brought to the attention of the trial court. However, an intermediate appellate court may, regardless of objections or exceptions, reverse in the interests of justice or because the trial court judgment was against the weight of evidence. In arriving at its conclusion as to 'interests of justice' or weight of evidence, the intermediate court is not precluded from taking into consideration the circumstance that illegal evidence was taken.

Since the reversal here was soundly based on grounds within the intermediate appellate court's competence we affirm.

DYE, FULD, VAN VOORHIS, BURKE, FOSTER and SCILEPPI, JJ., concur.

Order affirmed.

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45 cases
  • United States v. Thomas
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
    • April 2, 1968
    ...N.Y.S. 2d 185, 184 N.E.2d 165 (1962); People v. Wade, 12 N.Y.2d 61, 236 N.Y.S.2d 36, 187 N.E.2d 111 (1962); People v. Kelly, 12 N.Y.2d 248, 238 N.Y.S.2d 934, 189 N.E.2d 477 (1963); People v. Wilson, 16 A.D.2d 207, 229 N.Y.S.2d 685 (1st Dep't 1962); People v. Nettingham, 17 A.D.2d 979, 234 N......
  • United States v. Fay
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
    • April 13, 1965
    ...423, 182 N.E.2d 100 (1962); People v. Alexander, 18 A.D.2d 1092, 239 N.Y.S. 2d 364 (2d Dept.1963); cf. People v. Kelly, 12 N.Y.2d 248, 250, 238 N.Y.S.2d 934, 935, 189 N.E.2d 477 (1963). If the Appellate Division considered the constitutional claim on its merits, leave to appeal to the New Y......
  • People v. De Renzzio
    • United States
    • New York Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • December 30, 1966
    ... ... Kelly, 12 N.Y.2d 248, 238 N.Y.S.2d 934, 189 N.E.2d 477) but we find nothing in this record that moves us towards such a conclusion.' (25 A.D.2d 652, 653, 268 N.Y.S.2d 542.) ...         In addition, even if we were to overlook for the moment the fact that no objection was made to the admission of ... ...
  • United States v. Follette
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
    • October 3, 1967
    ...182 N.E.2d 100 (1962). But see People v. McLucas, 15 N.Y.2d 167, 256 N.Y.S.2d 799, 204 N.E.2d 846 (1965); People v. Kelly, 12 N.Y.2d 248, 238 N.Y.S.2d 934, 189 N.E.2d 477 (1963). Had petitioner been tried in Federal court, the absence of an objection at trial would preclude him from raising......
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