Criminal Justice Reform Bill: What an OUI Defendant Should Know
On April 13, 2018, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law a new bill that made a number of important changes to the Massachusetts Criminal Justice System. The Attorneys at Coughlin...
Supreme Judicial Court Issues Important Ruling on Police Interrogations
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently issued an important decision concerning police interrogations. In Commonwealth v. Smith, the highest court in the Commonwealth reversed a defendant’s murder and attempted armed...
Medical Marijuana and Drugged Driving in Massachusetts
Voters in Massachusetts voted in November 2012 to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes, but lawmakers are still working out the details of how to incorporate the reform...
Warrant Required for Forced DUI Blood Draw, Supreme Court Rules
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling recently that reinforces the rights of people stopped by police on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. On April 17, 2013,...
“Pocket Parks” Reduce Housing Options for People Convicted of Sex Crimes
In a trend that is gaining momentum throughout the country, a growing number of communities are establishing tiny parks in an effort to drive registered sex offenders out of town....
Threat to Sue is Witness Intimidation, Not Protected Speech
On October 22, 2014, In an unpublished opinion in Commonwealth v. Simeone, the Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled that a person who threatens to sue a witness in a criminal...
Federal Judge Upends §1983 Civil Rights Jury Verdict Because of Pretrial Probation
PRETRIAL PROBATION AND §1983 CIVIL RIGHTS CLAIMS In a decision published September 30, 2014, United States District Court Judge O’Toole reversed a jury’s determination that the plaintiff was wrongfully arrested...
Police Officer Kills Teenager in St. Louis
Yesterday, another white police officer killed a black teenager. This killing occurred in St. Louis, Missouri. See Wall St. J., St. Louis Police Officer Fatally Shoots Man (Oct. 9, 2014)....
VALOR Act Provides Alternative to Prosecution for Certain Veterans
On May 31, 2012, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law Senate Bill 2254, better known as the VALOR Act. See Governor’s Press Release. Among its many provisions, the VALOR Act...
Supreme Judicial Court Hears Arguments on Hate-Crime Law
On October 7, 2014, the Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments in Commonwealth v. Kelly, SJC-11616, a case interpreting the law that criminalizes certain civil-rights violations. See Case Information Page. In...