Opinion
December 23, 1988
Appeal from the Erie County Court, Wolfgang, J.
Present — Callahan, J.P., Denman, Green, Pine and Balio, JJ.
Case held, decision reserved, and matter remitted to Erie County Court for further proceedings in accordance with the following memorandum: On appeal from a judgment convicting defendant of burglary in the second degree and possession of burglary tools, defendant, a black male, claims that the prosecutor impermissibly used peremptory challenges to exclude prospective black jurors (see, People v Scott, 70 N.Y.2d 420; Batson v Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79). As voir dire was not transcribed, the record is insufficient to assess defendant's claim. Defendant raised objection before the trial court, noting that the prosecutor had used his peremptory challenges to exclude three black veniremen; the objection elicited no response. Under these circumstances, we find that defendant raised sufficient question to require a response (see, People v Pender, 144 A.D.2d 932; People v Lawson, 136 A.D.2d 929, lv dismissed 70 N.Y.2d 1007; People v Knight, 134 A.D.2d 845). There has been no showing that a reconstruction hearing would be inappropriate (cf., People v Scott, supra; People v Pender, supra). Accordingly, we hold the case, and we remit the matter to Erie County Court to hold a hearing on the issue and to make specific findings of fact and conclusions of law (People v Lawson, supra; People v Knight, supra). Although the Trial Judge is no longer in County Court, she is available to be called as a witness at the reconstruction hearing.