Opinion
July 3, 1997
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Bronx County (Efrain Alvarado, J.).
The court properly denied defendant's request to be present at sidebar discussions regarding the scope of cross-examination, since they concerned only matters of law ( see, People v. Rodriguez, 85 N.Y.2d 586, 591), and there existed no "potential for [defendant's] meaningful participation" ( supra, at 591). These discussions did not involve "factual matters about which defendant might have peculiar knowledge that would be useful in advancing the defendant's or countering the People's position" ( People v. Dokes, 79 N.Y.2d 656,660).
Concur — Milonas, J. P., Nardelli, Williams, Mazzarelli and Andrias, JJ.