{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cpl", "section": "270.20", "citation": "CPL § 270.20", "heading": "Trial jury; challenge for cause of an individual juror", "text": ["§ 270.20  Trial jury; challenge for cause of an individual juror.", "1.  A challenge for cause is an objection to a prospective juror and may be made only on the ground that:", "(a)  He does not have the qualifications required by the judiciary law; or", "(b)  He has a state of mind that is likely to preclude him from rendering an impartial verdict based upon the evidence adduced at the trial; or", "(c)  He is related within the sixth degree by consanguinity or affinity to the defendant, or to the person allegedly injured by the crime charged, or to a prospective witness at the trial, or to counsel for the people or for the defendant; or that he is or was a party adverse to any such person in a civil action; or that he has complained against or been accused by any such person in a criminal action; or that he bears some other relationship to any such person of such nature that it is likely to preclude him from rendering an impartial verdict; or", "(d)  He was a witness at the preliminary examination or before the grand jury or is to be a witness at the trial; or", "(e)  He served on the grand jury which found the indictment in issue or served on a trial jury in a prior civil or criminal action involving the same incident charged in such indictment; or", "(f) The crime charged may be punishable by death and the prospective juror entertains such conscientious opinions either against or in favor of such punishment as to preclude such juror from rendering an impartial verdict or from properly exercising the discretion conferred upon such juror by law in the determination of a sentence pursuant to section 400.27.", "2.  All issues of fact or law arising on the challenge must be tried and determined by the court.  If the challenge is allowed, the court must exclude the person challenged from service.  An erroneous ruling by the court allowing a challenge for cause by the people does not constitute reversible error unless the people have exhausted their peremptory challenges at the time or exhaust them before the selection of the jury is complete.  An erroneous ruling by the court denying a challenge for cause by the defendant does not constitute reversible error unless the defendant has exhausted his peremptory challenges at the time or, if he has not, he peremptorily challenges such prospective juror and his peremptory challenges are exhausted before the selection of the jury is complete."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/270.20", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A challenge for cause objects to one juror, allowed **only** on these grounds:\n- **(a)** Lacks Judiciary Law qualifications;\n- **(b)** Has a **state of mind** likely to prevent an impartial verdict on the evidence;\n- **(c)** Is **related within the sixth degree** by blood (consanguinity) or marriage (affinity) to the defendant, victim, a witness, or counsel; or was an adverse party in a civil case with such a person; or has accused/been accused by them in a criminal action; or has some other disqualifying relationship. ★\n- **(d)** Was a witness at the preliminary hearing or grand jury, or will be a trial witness;\n- **(e)** Served on the **grand jury** that indicted, or on a prior trial jury involving the **same incident**;\n- **(f)** In a **death-eligible** case, holds views on capital punishment (for or against) that would preclude an impartial verdict or proper sentencing discretion under § 400.27.\n\n**(2)** The **court** decides. If allowed, the juror is excluded. ★ **Harmless-error rule:** an erroneous *allowance* of a People's cause challenge isn't reversible unless the People exhausted (or later exhaust) their peremptories; an erroneous *denial* of the defendant's cause challenge isn't reversible unless the defendant then peremptorily strikes that juror **and** exhausts peremptories before selection ends.", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cpl/270.20", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}