People v. Bludson

Green and Wisner, JJ.

(dissenting). We respectfully dissent. Each of the three jurors challenged for cause by defendant revealed “knowledge or opinions reflecting a state of mind likely to preclude impartial service” (People v Johnson, 94 NY2d 600, 614; see, CPL 270.20 [1] [b]). Upon further questioning, the challenged jurors did not give “unequivocal assurance that they [could] set aside any bias and render an impartial verdict based on the evidence” (People v Johnson, supra, at 614). Therefore, Supreme Court erred in denying defendant’s challenges for cause and, because defendant exhausted…