New York Court of Appeals

The People of the State of New York v. Douglas Kenny

March 22, 197230 N.Y.2d 154

Summary

The Court of Appeals affirmed the Appellate Division's reversal, holding that expert testimony or opinion evidence is essential to establish the identity of marijuana in a drug‑selling conviction. The majority relied on longstanding New York precedent and a California decision, while a dissent argued that lay testimony could suffice.