People v. Pimentel
The defendant appealed his conviction for attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree as a crime of terrorism. The Appellate Division affirmed the judgment. The court found that while the defendant made a valid waiver of his right to appeal, his challenges to the statute defining "a crime of terrorism" were unwaivable. The court rejected claims of federal preemption, stating that congressional intent to preempt state legislation in counterterrorism was not shown. It also found the statute not unconstitutionally vague and upheld it against challenges under the Free Speech Clause, concluding that heightened punishment for criminal conduct with terrorist intent does not infringe on free speech.