Opinion
2015–10916 Ind. No. 2959/14
09-12-2018
The PEOPLE, etc., respondent, v. Adam NADLER, appellant.
Paul Skip Laisure, New York, N.Y. (Caitlin Halpern of counsel), for appellant. Eric Gonzalez, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove, Ann Bordley, and Terrence F. Heller of counsel), for respondent.
Paul Skip Laisure, New York, N.Y. (Caitlin Halpern of counsel), for appellant.
Eric Gonzalez, District Attorney, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Leonard Joblove, Ann Bordley, and Terrence F. Heller of counsel), for respondent.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., SANDRA L. SGROI, ROBERT J. MILLER, VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (James P. Sullivan, J.), rendered October 13, 2015, convicting him of assault in the second degree and menacing in the second degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed.
The defendant was charged with various crimes after an incident during which he attacked two delicatessen employees.
During pretrial proceedings, the defendant had several outbursts in the courtroom, and reportedly challenged a police sergeant to a fight and screamed at the prosecutor on the street outside the courthouse. Defense counsel moved for an examination pursuant to CPL 730.30. The Supreme Court denied this request, finding the defendant fit to proceed to trial.
During jury selection, the defendant requested that he be allowed to proceed pro se. The Supreme Court conducted an extensive colloquy concerning the defendant's education, employment history, criminal record, and experience with the court system. The court granted the defendant's request. The defendant proceeded pro se for the rest of jury selection and the trial, with his former counsel present as a legal advisor. After the jury trial, the defendant was convicted of assault in the second degree and menacing in the second degree.
In fulfilling our responsibility to conduct an independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15[5] ; People v. Danielson, 9 N.Y.3d 342, 348–349, 849 N.Y.S.2d 480, 880 N.E.2d 1 ), we accord great deference to the jury's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe demeanor (see People v. Mateo, 2 N.Y.3d 383, 410, 779 N.Y.S.2d 399, 811 N.E.2d 1053 ; People v. Bleakley, 69 N.Y.2d 490, 495, 515 N.Y.S.2d 761, 508 N.E.2d 672 ). Upon reviewing the record here, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see Penal Law §§ 120.05[2] ; 120.14[1]; People v. Romero, 7 N.Y.3d 633, 826 N.Y.S.2d 163, 859 N.E.2d 902 ).
A defendant is presumed competent and fit to stand trial, and is not entitled, as a matter of right, to have the question of capacity to stand trial passed upon unless the trial court is satisfied from the available information that a proper basis exists for questioning the defendant's sanity (see People v. Morgan , 87 N.Y.2d 878, 638 N.Y.S.2d 942, 662 N.E.2d 260 ; People v. Starr , 114 A.D.3d 813, 814, 980 N.Y.S.2d 161 ; People v. Keiser , 100 A.D.3d 927, 928, 954 N.Y.S.2d 184 ; People v. Allen , 285 A.D.2d 470, 471, 727 N.Y.S.2d 331 ; People v. Lucci , 250 A.D.2d 780, 671 N.Y.S.2d 1001 ). The court must issue an order of examination "when it is of the opinion that the defendant may be an incapacitated person ... who as a result of mental disease or defect lacks capacity to understand the proceedings about him or to assist in his own defense" ( CPL 730.30[1] ; 730.10[1]; see People v. Minckler , 149 A.D.3d 1526, 1527, 53 N.Y.S.3d 767 ; People v. Heston , 72 A.D.3d 701, 899 N.Y.S.2d 278 ; People v. Galea , 54 A.D.3d 686, 687, 863 N.Y.S.2d 695 ; People v. Harris , 109 A.D.2d 351, 352, 491 N.Y.S.2d 678 ). The record supports the Supreme Court's denial of defense counsel's request that the defendant be examined pursuant to CPL 730.30. The record shows that the defendant was able to communicate, understand, remember, and refer to his discussions with defense counsel, all of which are relevant in considering whether a CPL 730.30 exam is warranted (see People v. Starr , 114 A.D.3d at 814, 980 N.Y.S.2d 161 ; People v. Trent , 74 A.D.3d 1370, 1371, 903 N.Y.S.2d 236 ; People v. Lucci , 250 A.D.2d 780, 671 N.Y.S.2d 1001 ; People v. Picozzi , 106 A.D.2d 413, 482 N.Y.S.2d 335 ). Moreover, the court providently exercised its discretion in allowing the defendant to proceed pro se without conducting such an examination, since there was no evidence of any severe mental illness that rendered the defendant incapable of intelligently and voluntarily waiving his right to counsel and representing himself (see People v. Paulin , 140 A.D.3d 985, 987, 33 N.Y.S.3d 459 ).
DILLON, J.P., SGROI, MILLER and BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ., concur.