People v. Man

The defendant was convicted of speeding in violation of a Long Island State Park Commission ordinance and he appeals. Apart from any consideration of the merits of the case I conclude that the judgment of conviction must be reversed.

The conviction rests on a form of complaint upon which no defendant can get an impartial trial: At the bottom of the form and distinct from the body of the complaint itself appear these words: “Attitude of defendant — courteous, discourteous ” and the instructions “ Circle words needed ”.

It happens here that the word ‘ ‘ discourteous ’ ’ was stricken, indicating…