In an important decision issued today, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unanimously ruled Boston police officers illegally stopped and searched a black man who was in the general vicinity of a crime scene in 2011.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Warren.  (more…)

In upholding a woman's animal cruelty conviction for starving her dog to death, the Massachusetts Appeals Court today ruled it was proper for the trial judge to prohibit her from owning any pets as a condition of her probation.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Waller.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today ruled that when a driver is suspected of operating under the influence of alcohol and agrees to blow the Breathalyzer, her inability to provide a valid sample will be shared with the jury.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Adonsoto.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Appeals Court today reversed the murder conviction of a man who gunned down an off-duty Revere police officer, ruling that the trial judge committed reversible error by refusing to instruct the jury to consider whether the defendant was acting in self-defense.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Iacoviello.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court yesterday agreed with a superior court judge that a man convicted of gunning down a Boston police detective in 1993 is entitled to a new trial.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Ellis.  (more…)