The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today ruled that there is a "constitutional exception" to the hearsay rule that has not been previously recognized in Massachusetts.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Drayton.  (more…)

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 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…)

In an important decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today ruled that the Commonwealth cannot introduce evidence in a criminal defendant's trial that is related to a prior case in which the defendant was found not guilty.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Dorazio.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today reversed a defendant's convictions for serious crimes because Worcester police officers used coercive and unconstitutional techniques to obtain a confession from him.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Monroe. (more…)