People v. Watson

Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Balter, J.), rendered August 16, 2004, convicting him of bail jumping in the first degree, upon a jury verdict, and imposing sentence.

Ordered that the judgment is reversed, on the law, and a new trial is ordered.

The defendant contends that he was denied his right to a public trial (see US Const Amend VI; Civil Rights Law § 12; Judiciary Law § 4) because the Supreme Court excluded his family and his attorney’s supervisor from the courtroom during the testimony of an undercover officer. Although the Supreme Court may…