People v. McKenzie

• Decision Date: 30 September 2016
• Citation: 38 N.Y.S.3d 330,142 A.D.3d 1279,2016 N.Y. Slip Op. 06288
• Parties: The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Donyell J. McKENZIE, Defendant–Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

142 A.D.3d 1279

38 N.Y.S.3d 330

2016 N.Y. Slip Op. 06288

The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent,

v.Donyell J. McKENZIE, Defendant–Appellant.

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

Sept. 30, 2016.

Timothy P. Donaher, Public Defender, Rochester (Drew R. Dubrin of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.

Donyell J. McKenzie, Defendant–Appellant Pro Se.

Sandra Doorley, District Attorney, Rochester (Robert J. Shoemaker of Counsel), for Respondent.

PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CARNI, DEJOSEPH, CURRAN, AND TROUTMAN, JJ.

MEMORANDUM:

Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him upon a jury verdict of murder in the second degree (Penal Law § 125.25[1] ). We previously affirmed a judgment convicting defendant of that crime (People v. McKenzie, 81 A.D.3d 1375, 916 N.Y.S.2d 861, revd. 19 N.Y.3d 463, 951 N.Y.S.2d 691, 976 N.E.2d 217 ). In reversing our order, the Court of Appeals concluded that defendant was entitled to a jury instruction on the affirmative defense of extreme emotional disturbance, and ordered a new trial (McKenzie, 19 N.Y.3d at 469, 951 N.Y.S.2d 691, 976 N.E.2d 217 ). In this appeal after that retrial, defendant contends, inter alia, that he was deprived of his right to counsel because defense counsel permitted him to choose a member of the jury. We agree, and we therefore reverse the judgment and grant defendant a new trial.

“It is well established that a defendant, having accepted the assistance of counsel, retains authority only over certain fundamental decisions regarding the case such as whether to plead guilty, waive a jury trial, testify in his or her own behalf or take an appeal” (People v. Colon, 90 N.Y.2d 824, 825–826, 660 N.Y.S.2d 377, 682 N.E.2d 978 [internal quotation marks omitted] ). “The selection of particular jurors falls within the category of tactical decisions entrusted to counsel, and defendants do not retain a personal veto power over counsel's exercise of professional judgments” (id. at 826, 660 N.Y.S.2d 377, 682 N.E.2d 978 ; see People v. Morgan, 77 A.D.3d 1419, 1420, 908 N.Y.S.2d 779, lv. denied 15 N.Y.3d 922, 913 N.Y.S.2d 649, 939 N.E.2d 815 ).

Here, during the part of the jury selection process when the attorneys were exercising peremptory challenges, defense counsel stated “[f]or the record, my client is insisting over my objection to keep juror number 21. So, jurors 20 and 21 will be on the jury.” We agree with defendant that, contrary to the People's contention, defense counsel “never ‘acceded’ or ‘acquies[ed]’ to defendant's decision” (People v. Colville, 20 N.Y.3d 20, 32, 955 N.Y.S.2d 799, 979 N.E.2d 1125 ). Furthermore, contrary to the circumstances in People v. Hartle , 122 A.D.3d 1290, 1292, 995 N.Y.S.2d 424, lv. denied 25 N.Y.3d 1164, 15 N.Y.S.3d 296, 36 N.E.3d 99, defense counsel's statement constitutes a clear indication that his position differed from defendant's position. We respectfully disagree with the dissent's speculative view that “ defense counsel merely took the input gained from [the] consultation [with defendant] into account in determining whether to exclude the prospective juror at issue.” Although defense counsel stated that juror number 21 would be on the jury, the record establishes that County Court, in seating juror number 21 on the jury, was “guided solely by defendant's choice in the matter,” and that was “error because the decision was for the attorney, not the accused, to make” (Colville, 20 N.Y.3d at 32, 955 N.Y.S.2d 799, 979 N.E.2d 1125 ). Consequently, the court denied defendant the “expert judgment of counsel to which the Sixth Amendment entitles him,” and “we cannot say that the error here was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt” (id. ).

In view of our determination, there is no need to address defendant's remaining contentions raised in his main and pro se supplemental briefs.

It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is reversed on the law and a new trial is granted.

All concur except SMITH, J.P., and TROUTMAN, J., who dissent and vote to affirm in the following memorandum:

We respectfully dissent. We disagree with the conclusion of the majority that defendant was deprived of his right to counsel because his attorney permitted him to choose a member of the jury. We conclude that the record establishes that defense counsel acceded to defendant's request to permit the juror at issue to be seated on the trial jury, and we would therefore affirm the judgment.

We agree with the majority that “[t]he selection of particular jurors falls within the category of tactical decisions entrusted to counsel, and defendants do not retain a personal veto power over counsel's exercise of professional judgments” (People v. Colon, 90 N.Y.2d 824, 826, 660 N.Y.S.2d 377, 682 N.E.2d 978 ; see People v. Morgan, 77 A.D.3d 1419, 1420, 908 N.Y.S.2d 779, lv. denied 15 N.Y.3d 922, 913 N.Y.S.2d 649, 939 N.E.2d 815 ). Indeed, the Court of Appeals has unequivocally rejected the contention that “a defendant's right to be present at voir dire includ[es] the right to veto his counsel's choices in selecting a jury” (People v. Sprowal, 84 N.Y.2d 113, 119, 615 N.Y.S.2d 328, 638 N.E.2d 973 ). Thus, we agree with the majority that a defendant does not have the right to veto his attorney's choice to exclude a particular prospective juror.

Here, however, the record does not establish that County Court permitted defendant to override defense counsel's choice. While the attorneys were exercising their peremptory challenges, defense counsel stated, “For the record, my client is insisting over my objection to keep juror number 21. So, juror[ ] ... 21 will be on the jury.” Defendant did not speak, despite being present at the bench at that time, nor did the court ask any further questions of defendant or defense counsel.

Based on the fact that defense counsel made the determination not to challenge the juror, we would reject defendant's contention that defense counsel abdicated his duty to select the jurors. To the contrary, we conclude that “the record is equally consistent with the inference that, after discussing the issue at length, defense counsel ... acceded to defendant's position” (People v. Gottsche, 118 A.D.3d 1303, 1304–1305, 987 N.Y.S.2d 736, lv. denied 24 N.Y.3d 1084, 1 N.Y.S.3d 11, 25 N.E.3d 348 ; cf. generally People v. Colville, 20 N.Y.3d 20, 32, 955 N.Y.S.2d 799, 979 N.E.2d 1125 ), and that, “after consulting with and weighing the accused's views along with other relevant...