The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court yesterday ruled a police officer cannot prolong an ordinary traffic stop to investigate an unrelated suspected crime unless the officer can articulate specific facts that suggest the crime has been committed.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Cordero.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today reversed the drug-dealing conviction of a man who asserted the rarely-used (and rarely-successful) entrapment defense at his superior court trial.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Denton.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Appeals Court yesterday upheld a Springfield man's gun conviction, ruling the police had properly stopped and seized him after observing the transfer of the weapon.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Suriel.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Appeals Court today reversed an Everett man's conviction for assaulting an elderly woman (his neighbor) when surveillance video of the incident was accidentally erased and the only witness - a police officer - was improperly permitted to describe what he saw on the video.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v....

The Massachusetts Appeals Court today reversed a man's conviction for violating the state's school zone statute, concluding the Commonwealth had failed to present evidence the school was "accredited" as required by the law.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Cooper. (more…)