People v. Melendez

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.

During the testimony of a non-English-speaking witness, the trial court required defendant’s court-appointed interpreter to stand at the back of the courtroom and interpret for the entire court, rather than solely for defendant. The constitutional issues defendant raises — including the violation of his right to counsel, his right to be present and his right to participate in his own defense — were not presented to the trial court and are thus not preserved for our review. Defendant’s remaining contentions…