People v. Robinson — 88 N.Y.2d 1001

Majority

p. 1001

[671 NE2d 1266, 648 NYS2d 869]

The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Norma Jean Robinson, Appellant.

Decided September 10, 1996

APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL

Stephen J. Pittari, White Plains, and Jacqueline F. Oliva for appellant.

Jeanine Pirro, District Attorney of Westchester County, White Plains (Maryanne Luciano of counsel), for respondent.

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.

After a jury trial, defendant was convicted, as an accomplice, of rape in the first degree and sexual abuse in the first degree. On her appeal to the Appellate Division, defendant contended, among other things, that the trial court’s instruction to the jury on reasonable doubt impermissibly shifted the burden of proof. The majority of the Appellate Division held that this contention was unpreserved ( 218 AD2d 673 , 674). We agree,

p. 1002

because to frame and preserve a question of law reviewable by this Court, an objection or exception must be made with sufficient specificity at the trial, when the nisi prius court has an opportunity to consider and deal with the asserted error (CPL 470.05 [2]; People v Robinson, 36 NY2d 224 ). That was not done here.

We have examined defendant’s remaining contentions and conclude that they are without merit.

Chief Judge Kaye and Judges Simons, Titone, Bellacosa, Smith, Levine and Ciparick concur.

On review of submissions pursuant to section 500.4 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals (22 NYCRR 500.4), order affirmed in a memorandum.

Cases cited

People v. Robinson 36 NY2d 224 N.Y. 1975-02-20 p. 1002