The court properly denied defendant's request to be present at sidebar discussions regarding the scope of cross-examination, since they concerned only matters of law ( see, People v. Rodriguez, 85 N.Y.2d 586, 591), and there existed no "potential for [defendant's] meaningful participation" ( supra, at 591). These discussions did not involve "factual matters about which defendant might have peculiar knowledge that would be useful in advancing the defendant's or countering the People's position" ( People v. Dokes, 79 N.Y.2d 656,660).
Concur — Milonas, J. P., Nardelli, Williams, Mazzarelli and Andrias, JJ.