For the second time in three weeks, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has reversed a Suffolk County murder conviction after the trial judge failed to determine whether the prosecutor was improperly excluding black people from serving on the jury.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Ortega. (more…)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court yesterday affirmed the murder conviction of a defendant who beat to death a New Bedford man with a hammer.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Gardner.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today reversed the murder conviction of an alleged drug dealer who was accused of shooting to death another drug dealer in a Boston apartment.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Drayton.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today reaffirmed the principle that a police officer may stop a car for a motor vehicle infraction, despite the officer's true motive for stopping the car.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Buckley. (more…)

In a 4-3 decision delivered today, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that when a driver gave his consent for a police officer to search "in the vehicle" for contraband, the consent to search did not extend to the area behind the air filter underneath the hood.  The name of the case is Commonwealth...