The People of the State of New York, Respondent v. Cecilio Eastman, Appellant

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals held that the Supreme Court's decision in Cruz v. New York applies retroactively to collateral review and that the admission of a nontestifying codefendant's confession was not harmless error, vacating the defendant's murder and weapons convictions and ordering a new trial. Justice Bellacosa dissented, arguing that the harmless error analysis was misplaced and the conviction should be affirmed.