People v. Campble

The trial court improperly closed the courtroom during the testimony of the undercover police officer who purchased crack-cocaine from the defendant. The sole witness at the Hinton hearing (see, People v Hinton, 31 NY2d 71, cert denied 410 US 911) was the undercover officer, who testified that he was assigned to the Brooklyn South Narcotics unit, and was previously assigned to the Brooklyn South TNT unit. He continued to work undercover in the area covered by the Brooklyn South Narcotics unit. He further testified that he had "open cases” involving subjects who had been arrested but not yet…