New York Court of Appeals

The People of the State of New York, Appellant v. Charles Sprowal, Respondent

June 16, 199484 N.Y.2d 113

Summary

The Court held that a defendant’s right to be present at voir dire sidebars is statutory, not constitutional, and that the Antommarchi rule applies only prospectively; therefore the Appellate Division’s reversal was erroneous and the case was remanded for further fact-finding.