People v. Champen

OPINION OF THE COURT

Benjamin Altman, J.

The defense moved to prove by extrinsic evidence the bias, hostility, and interest of the prosecution’s principal witness.

Further, in what must be regarded as a novel question by this court, the defendant seeks to call to the stand the defendant’s former defense attorney. By so doing, the defense would seek to show the initial hostility and bias of the prosecution witness toward the attorney. In turn, the defense seeks to show this hostility and bias is directed derivatively toward the defendant, the former client of the defense attorney.

The defendant,…