Case Name: In the Matter of Gary Bell, Petitioner, v. Ralph Sherman et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1991-06-24
Citations: 174 A.D.2d 738
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Gary Bell, Petitioner, v Ralph Sherman et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 174
Pages: 738–739

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Gary Bell, Petitioner, v Ralph Sherman et al., Respondents.

Opinion:
—Proceeding pursuant to CPLR arti ele 78 to prohibit the respondents from proceeding further against the petitioner on Queens County Indictment Number QN12163/88.
Adjudged that the petition is denied and the proceeding is dismissed, without costs or disbursements.
A juror who has not heard all of the evidence in a case is grossly unqualified to render a verdict and must, therefore, be discharged (see, People v Russell, 112 AD2d 451, 452). Where, as here, the discharge of the juror makes it impossible to continue with the trial, principles of double jeopardy will not act to bar a retrial (CPL 270.35, 280.10). Further, we note that a defendant cannot consent to a trial by fewer than 12 jurors (see, Matter of Stressler v Hynes, 169 AD2d 750; NY Const, art I, § 2; art VI, § 18; Cancemi v People, 18 NY 128; People v Lester, 149 AD2d 975). Mangano, P. J., Thompson, Balletta and Rosenblatt, JJ., concur.