{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cpl", "section": "260.20", "citation": "CPL § 260.20", "heading": "Jury trial; defendant's presence at trial", "text": ["§ 260.20  Jury trial; defendant's presence at trial.", "A defendant must be personally present during the trial of an indictment; provided, however, that a defendant who conducts himself in so disorderly and disruptive a manner that his trial cannot be carried on with him in the courtroom may be removed from the courtroom if, after he has been warned by the court that he will be removed if he continues such conduct, he continues to engage in such conduct."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/260.20", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "The defendant **must be personally present** during the trial. ★\n\n**But** a defendant who is **so disorderly and disruptive** that the trial can't go on **may be removed** from the courtroom — ★ *only after* the court has **warned** him he'll be removed if he keeps it up, and he keeps it up anyway. So the sequence is: warn first, then remove if the conduct continues.", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cpl/260.20", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}