People v. Hernandez

OPINION OF THE COURT

Bellacosa, J.

This appeal stems from defendant’s conviction for attempted rape and sexual abuse, each in the first degree. Defendant raises three issues: (1) the trial court’s denial of his lawyer’s challenge for cause of a potential juror, a New York State legislator; (2) a jury instruction defining attempt as a “substantial step” toward the completion of the crime (rather than specifying that the act come “dangerously close” to completion of the crime); and (3) the appealability, as part of the judgment of conviction, of his certification as a “sex offender.” The last…