People v. Sanchez

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be reversed and a new trial ordered.

During jury deliberations one of the jurors told a court officer that “she didn’t understand what was going on,” and that “she didn’t understand the lawyers and she didn’t understand the judge.” The officer reported this to the court, who brought it to the attention of the parties. While the court and the parties were discussing what to do, the jury sent out a note stating that it had reached a verdict.

Without resolving the problem, the court took the verdict (by which the jury found…