Opinion ID: 2038479
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: People v Hutton

Text: Defendant's conviction after a jury trial was for criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of an automobile. At trial, the court told defendant that he was free to be present at sidebars, if any take place, but added that if the defendant insisted on his personal presence, all jurors would remain in the jury box and be questioned in open court. Because of the constraints of [the] ruling and because defense counsel felt that open comments from the jurors [would] kill their ability to speak forthrightly and honestly as to any prejudices, defendant personally waived his Antommarchi rights, stating that he did so of his own free will and that no one forced him to waive that right. The Appellate Division affirmed the conviction, and a Judge of this Court granted defendant leave to appeal.