Case ID: ny-2d_78/html/1058-03.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Raymond J. Somers, Appellant.
    Argued September 4, 1991;
    decided October 22, 1991
    
      APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
    
      Joseph J. Balok, Jr., Public Defender (John R. McGlenn of counsel), for appellant.
    
      James T. Hayden, District Attorney, for respondent.
   OPINION OF THE COURT

Order affirmed. The issues sought to be raised by defendant are not preserved for this Court’s review and, therefore, the Court cannot consider the merits.

Concur: Chief Judge Wachtler and Judges Simons, Kaye, Alexander, Titone and Bellacos a. Judge Hancock, Jr., dissents and votes to reverse, concluding that defendant preserved the constitutional issue whether the application of Penal Law §§ 40.15 and 25.00 unconstitutionally shifted the burden of proof to defendant, and that the trial court’s charge to the jury failed to safeguard against the insanity affirmative defense statute impermissibly shifting to defendant the burden of disproving intent (see, People v Kohl, 72 NY2d 191, 198-199).