People v. Taylor

OPINION OF THE COURT

Kaye, J.

At the core of this appeal, in a prosecution for criminal possession of a controlled substance and related offenses, is the meaning of "substantial compliance” with the requirements of a statute — here, a statute specifically mandating that testimony taken in support of a search warrant application "be either recorded or summarized on the record by the court.” (CPL 690.40 [1].)

During the evening of January 16, 1987, the local police department called Webster Town Justice Jack Van Ingen to the station to conduct a hearing on an application for a warrant to search…