A federal judge in New York recently ruled that a man who wrote obscenities on a speeding ticket he was paying could not be criminally prosecuted because his written message was protected by the First Amendment. (more…)

The Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled today that a superior court judge properly allowed the Commonwealth to introduce evidence of the defendant's Internet search history, which included searches for pornography involving young girls, during the defendant's child rape trial.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Vera.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today affirmed the first-degree murder conviction of a 17-year-old boy who allegedly shot the victim in the head.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Penn. (more…)

The Massachusetts Appeals Court yesterday ruled for the first time that the Commonwealth cannot charge an individual with conspiracy to violate the drug laws for a single street-level drug deal.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Doty.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Appeals Court yesterday reversed the conviction of an inmate at the Hampden County House of Correction who allegedly assaulted a guard, after determining that his attorney had provided constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Hampton.  (more…)