In People v. Blyden (55 NY2d 73 [1982]), the Court reversed a conviction where during voir dire a "juror's initial statements indicated a hostility to racial minorities that cast serious doubt on his ability to render an impartial verdict . . . and to the Judge's questions, the juror merely responded that he thought he could put aside his personal feelings and keep an open mind." The Court (at 79) found that those statements fell short of "the required express and unequivocal declarations" that his "bias would not influence his verdict or that he could render an impartial verdict based on the evidence presented."