New York Court of Appeals

The People of the State of New York, Respondent v. John Taylor, Appellant

October 23, 20079 N.Y.3d 129

Summary

The Court held that the death‑penalty statute’s deadlock instruction is facially unconstitutional, so John Taylor’s death sentence must be vacated and the case remanded for resentencing; the decision rests on the precedent set in People v. LaValle and the doctrine of stare decisis.