{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cpl", "section": "350.10", "citation": "CPL § 350.10", "heading": "Conduct of single judge trial", "text": ["§ 350.10  Conduct of single judge trial.", "1.  A single judge trial of an information in a local criminal court must be conducted pursuant to this section.", "2.  The court, in addition to determining all questions of law, is the exclusive trier of all issues of fact and must render a verdict.", "3.  The order of the trial must be as follows:", "(a)  The court may in its discretion permit the parties to deliver opening addresses.  If the court grants such permission to one party, it must grant it to the other also.  If both parties deliver opening addresses, the people's address must be delivered first.", "(b)  The order in which evidence must or may be offered by the respective parties is the same as that applicable to a jury trial of an indictment as prescribed in subdivisions five, six and seven of section 260.30.", "(c)  The court may in its discretion permit the parties to deliver summations.  If the court grants such permission to one party, it must grant permission to the other also.  If both parties deliver summations, the defendant's summation must be delivered first.", "(d)  The court must then consider the case and render a verdict.", "4.  The provisions governing motion practice and general procedure with respect to a jury trial of an indictment are, wherever appropriate, applicable to a non-jury trial of an information.", "5.  If the information contains more than one count, the court must render a verdict upon each count not previously dismissed or must otherwise state upon the record its disposition of each such count.  A verdict which does not so dispose of each count constitutes a verdict of not guilty with respect to each undisposed of count.", "6.  In rendering a verdict of guilty upon a count charging a misdemeanor, the court may find the defendant guilty of such misdemeanor if it is established by legally sufficient trial evidence, or guilty of any lesser included offense which is established by legally sufficient trial evidence."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/350.10", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "- **1.** A single-judge trial of an information in a **local criminal court** must follow this section.\n- **2.** The court decides **all questions of law** and is the **exclusive trier of all issues of fact**, and **must render a verdict.** ★ (No jury — the judge does both jobs.)\n- **3. Order of trial:**\n  - **(a) Opening addresses** are **discretionary** — but if the court lets one party open, it **must** let the other; if both open, **the People go first.** ★\n  - **(b) Evidence** is offered in the **same order as a jury trial of an indictment** under **§ 260.30(5),(6),(7).** ★\n  - **(c) Summations** are also **discretionary** — same \"if one, then both\" rule; if both sum up, **the defendant goes first.** ★ (Note the flip: People open first, defendant sums up first.)\n  - **(d)** The court then **considers the case and renders a verdict.**\n- **4.** Jury-trial **motion practice and general procedure** rules apply to this non-jury trial **wherever appropriate.**\n- **5. Multi-count informations:** the court **must render a verdict (or state its disposition) on each count.** ★ A verdict that fails to dispose of a count = **a verdict of not guilty** on each undisposed count. ★\n- **6. Lesser included offenses:** on a misdemeanor count, the court may find the defendant guilty of that misdemeanor **or** of any **lesser included offense** supported by legally sufficient evidence. ★", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cpl/350.10", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}