People v. Mintz, 20 N.Y.2d 753 (1967)

A criminal prosecution abates entirely upon the death of the defendant pending appeal, requiring the judgment of conviction to be vacated and the indictment dismissed.

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals addressed the issue of whether a criminal prosecution should continue after the defendant’s death while an appeal is pending. The court held that the defendant’s death abates the entire criminal prosecution. Consequently, the judgment of conviction cannot be enforced if affirmed, and there is no one to retry if reversed. The Court directed the trial court to vacate the judgment of conviction and dismiss the indictment, acting either on its own motion, upon the District Attorney’s application, or upon application by the defendant’s attorneys. This ruling underscores the principle that a criminal proceeding is personal to the defendant, and its purpose is extinguished upon their death.

Facts

The defendant, Mintz, was convicted of conspiracy in New York County. Mintz appealed his conviction. However, Mintz died while his appeal was pending before the Appellate Division.

Procedural History

The Appellate Division dismissed Mintz’s appeal due to his death. Mintz’s counsel then appealed to the New York Court of Appeals from the Appellate Division’s order. The Court of Appeals initially dismissed the appeal. Later, the Court of Appeals clarified its memorandum, specifying that the death of the defendant abates the entire criminal prosecution and directing the lower court to vacate the conviction and dismiss the indictment.

Issue(s)

Whether the death of a defendant pending appeal of a criminal conviction abates the entire criminal prosecution, requiring the judgment of conviction to be vacated and the indictment dismissed.

Holding

Yes, because the death of the defendant pending appeal renders the criminal prosecution moot, as the judgment cannot be enforced if affirmed, and there is no one to retry if reversed.

Court’s Reasoning

The Court of Appeals reasoned that the purpose of a criminal prosecution is personal to the defendant. Upon the defendant’s death, that purpose is extinguished. The court relied on precedents indicating that a criminal appeal becomes moot upon the defendant’s death. The court stated, “If affirmed, the judgment of conviction could not be enforced and, if reversed, there is no person to try. Therefore, the appeal should not be heard but, since it cannot be heard, it can never be determined whether the judgment of conviction would stand, and this requires that the judgment of conviction be vacated and the indictment dismissed.” The court emphasized the need to clear the defendant’s record, as the conviction’s validity could never be definitively determined due to the inability to proceed with the appeal. The court directed the trial court to take action to vacate the judgment and dismiss the indictment, ensuring the abatement of the prosecution is fully realized. This decision prevents any further legal consequences stemming from the conviction, given the defendant’s death.