Title: The People v. Paris Simmons

State: new-york

Issuer: New York Appellate Court

Document:

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This memorandum is uncorrected and subject to revision before
publication in the New York Reports.
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No. 135  
The People &c.,
            Respondent,
        v.
Paris Simmons,
            Appellant.
Valerie A. Koffman, for appellant.
Aaron M. Ginandes, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM:
The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.
Although certain phrases in the trial court's
supplemental instruction were inartfully worded, we are
unpersuaded that the trial court's response to a jury note, which
inquired about the element of intent, usurped the role of the
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No. 135
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jurors.  Viewing the problematic language in the broader context
of the supplemental instruction and the jury charge as a whole,
the court conveyed the proper legal standards and repeatedly
advised the jury that it was the exclusive arbiter of the facts.
*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  *
Order affirmed, in a memorandum.  Chief Judge Lippman and Judges
Ciparick, Graffeo, Read, Smith, Pigott and Jones concur.
Decided June 24, 2010