Opinion
2011-11899
11-26-2014
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Richard HOFFMANN, appellant.
Lynn W.L. Fahey, New York, N.Y. (Patricia Pazner of counsel), for appellant, and appellant pro se. Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Nicoletta J. Caferri, and Laura T. Ross of counsel), for respondent.
Lynn W.L. Fahey, New York, N.Y. (Patricia Pazner of counsel), for appellant, and appellant pro se.
Richard A. Brown, District Attorney, Kew Gardens, N.Y. (John M. Castellano, Nicoletta J. Caferri, and Laura T. Ross of counsel), for respondent.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., RUTH C. BALKIN, ROBERT J. MILLER, and COLLEEN D. DUFFY, JJ.
Opinion Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Queens County (Lewis, J.), rendered December 14, 2011, convicting him of driving while intoxicated in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1192(3), upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant's contention that the Supreme Court erred in denying defense counsel's challenge for cause to a prospective juror is only partially preserved for appellate review, as defense counsel failed to challenge the prospective juror on one of the specific grounds asserted on appeal (see CPL 470.05[2] ; People v. Campbell, 111 A.D.3d 760, 760, 974 N.Y.S.2d 555 ). In any event, the contention is without merit. A prospective juror may be challenged for cause on the ground that “[h]e [or she] has a state of mind that is likely to preclude him [or her] from rendering an impartial verdict based upon the evidence adduced at the trial” (CPL 270.20[1][b] ). “[A] prospective juror whose statements raise a serious doubt regarding the ability to be impartial must be excused unless the juror states unequivocally on the record that he or she can be fair and impartial” (People v. Chambers, 97 N.Y.2d 417, 419, 740 N.Y.S.2d 291, 766 N.E.2d 953 ; see People v. Arnold, 96 N.Y.2d 358, 362, 729 N.Y.S.2d 51, 753 N.E.2d 846 ). “Where a prospective juror offers such assurances, the trial court has discretion to deny the challenge for cause if it determines that the juror's promise to be impartial is credible” (People v. Johnson, 40 A.D.3d 1011, 1011–1012, 837 N.Y.S.2d 222 ; see People v. Arnold, 96 N.Y.2d at 363, 729 N.Y.S.2d 51, 753 N.E.2d 846 ). Here, although the prospective juror initially raised a concern regarding his ability to be impartial in a case involving an alleged drunk driver, he provided multiple unequivocal assurances that he could render an impartial verdict based solely on the evidence. Accordingly, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the defendant's challenge for cause (see People v. Chambers, 97 N.Y.2d at 418–419, 740 N.Y.S.2d 291, 766 N.E.2d 953 ; People v. Williams, 107 A.D.3d 746, 747, 966 N.Y.S.2d 225 ; People v. Hewitt, 95 A.D.3d 1358, 1359, 944 N.Y.S.2d 766 ).
The defendant's contention that the Supreme Court's instructions to the jury on the issue of reasonable doubt were constitutionally inadequate is unpreserved for appellate review (see CPL 470.05[2] ; People v. Coles, 62 A.D.3d 1022, 1023, 878 N.Y.S.2d 913 ). In any event, the defendant's contention is without merit because the instructions, on the whole, conveyed the correct standard to be employed by the jury (see People v. Fields, 87 N.Y.2d 821, 823, 637 N.Y.S.2d 355, 660 N.E.2d 1134 ; People v. Morris, 120 A.D.3d 835, 991 N.Y.S.2d 454 ; People v. King, 73 A.D.3d 1083, 1084, 903 N.Y.S.2d 56 ; People v. Coles, 62 A.D.3d at 1023, 878 N.Y.S.2d 913 ).
There is no merit to the defendant's contention, raised in his pro se supplemental brief, that he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel (see Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 ; People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 712–713, 674 N.Y.S.2d 629, 697 N.E.2d 584 ).
The defendant's remaining contentions, including those raised in his pro se supplemental brief, are unpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, without merit.