The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today refused to dismiss a Cambridge drug dealer's conviction for a school zone violation, despite the Legislature's recent decision to reduce school zones to a distance that would not have applied to the defendant's crime.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Walter Thompson. (more…)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today affirmed the first-degree murder conviction of a man who gunned down an acquaintance in a car in 2010.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Miguel Roman.  (more…)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today affirmed the murder conviction of a man who participated in a home invasion in Lawrence that ultimately resulted in the shooting death of the drug dealer who lived in the apartment.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Joonel Garcia.  (more…)

In his State of the Judicial speech delivered today, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants argued that the Legislature should enact legislation to end mandatory sentencing in drug cases.  Gants, who has served on the Supreme Judicial Court since 2009, was elevated to chief justice three months ago upon the retirement of...

In a decision that could have far-reaching implications for future drug prosecutions, the Massachusetts Appeals Court today reversed drug possession convictions of a woman that resulted from her arrest in Haverhill.  The name of the case is Commonwealth v. Dolores Paine. In October of 2008, a state trooper came upon a pickup truck parked...