MASSACHUSETTS HAS THEÂ lowest incarceration rate in the country and its inmate population continues to decline steadily, yet the state is still investing heavily in prisons and jails. A bill […]
Courts
Posted inCriminal Justice
Berkshire district attorney aims to open ‘black box’ of plea negotiationsÂ
MOST CRIMINAL CASES never make it to trial. Nationally, around 90 to 95 percent of cases are resolved through a guilty plea, where the prosecutor and defendant reach a negotiated […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Opinion, Race/Racism
Closing a hate-crime loophole
IMAGINE WAKING UP in the morning and seeing an image of hate painted on the front door of the apartment you’ve rented for years. This image is meant to target […]
Posted inUncategorized
SJC sides with Barstool Sports in dispute with Somerville mayorÂ
THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT on Monday rejected Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone’s argument that a Barstool Sports reporter violated the law when the reporter recorded an interview with Curtatone while lying about his […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Appeals Court rejects White petition, clearing way for Janey to fire him
A STATE APPEALS COURT judge on Thursday afternoon turned down Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White’s effort to block the city from proceeding with efforts to fire him because of allegations […]
Posted inUncategorized
Biden urges Supreme Court to stay out of Mass.-NH tax disputeÂ
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION on Tuesday urged the US Supreme Court not to intervene in a high-stakes tax battle between the states of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The Solicitor General’s office, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Judge stays her order on Boston police commissioner
Not so fast. Any plans Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey may have had to move swiftly to fire embattled Police Commissioner Dennis White following a court ruling in her favor […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Judge sides with city and denies White’s bid to block firing
A SUFFOLK SUPERIOR COURT judge on Tuesday denied a motion by Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to block his dismissal. Acting Mayor […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics
Judge sounds skeptical of call to block Boston police commissioner firing Â
EMBATTLED BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER Dennis White went to court on Thursday seeking to block his dismissal by Acting Mayor Kim Janey, but a Suffolk Superior Court judge indicated she was wary […]
Posted inUncategorized
Harsh judgment from some parents for Probate judgeÂ
WALTER SORENSON WAS in the midst of a child custody battle with his ex-wife in 2018 when Essex Probate and Family Court Judge Abbe Ross was assigned to his case. Pretty […]
Posted inDrug Addiction
Healey sues global advertising firm for marketing addictive opioidsÂ
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY, who has been one of the country’s strongest legal crusaders against opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma, has now filed a lawsuit against marketing firm Publicis Health for […]
Posted inUncategorized
Did DCF return David Almond to his father because he is white?
ADVOCATES SEEKING TO END racial disparities in Massachusetts’s child welfare system now have a powerful legislative ally: Sen. Adam Gomez, the new Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families […]
Posted inUncategorized
SJC rules Zoom court hearings OK, but …
THE TRIAL COURT is within its rights to hold hearings via videoconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in certain circumstances a criminal defendant should be allowed to postpone a […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Race/Racism
SJC to consider police use of ‘gang member’ designation
AMID GROWING NATIONAL AWARENESSÂ of the problems of racially biased policing, the Supreme Judicial Court will have a chance to weigh in on a tactic that is increasingly drawing scrutiny: the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Convicted murderer Raymond Gaines freed after 46 years amid new evidence
NEARLY 46 YEARS after Raymond Gaines was sent to prison for murder, a Suffolk Superior Court judge on Wednesday ordered his release after new evidence raised questions about his guilt, […]
Posted inUncategorized
In Galvin-DiMasi showdown, who’s the good guy?
BEACON HILL IS a funny place, and so it is that a backslapping former House speaker convicted of corruption charges is being cast as the good guy in a battle […]
Posted inEconomy
SJC upholds ban on car-sharing service Turo at Logan AirportÂ
THE CAR-SHARING platform Turo will continue to be banned from listing cars for rent at Logan Airport, under a Supreme Judicial Court decision released Wednesday. Turo is a private company that […]
Posted inUncategorized
Pandemic puts hold on adoptions, family reunificationsÂ
THE CHILDREN INVOLVED with the Department of Children and Families are already some of the most unsettled in the state. Now, the pandemic has further delayed many of these kids’ chances […]
Posted inPolitics
Early voting by mail challenged by Republicans
A LAWSUIT FILED by several losing Republican candidates challenging the use of mail-in voting in 2020 will have its day in court Thursday – and could provide a preview of […]
Posted inUncategorized
Casinos hoping odds in SJC case tilt in their favor
COULD A DISPUTE over the payout odds for blackjack actually rise to become a case before the Supreme Judicial Court? You bet. In an unusual case, the state’s highest court […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Rachael Rollins on vindication of her decline-to-prosecute policyÂ
RACHAEL ROLLINS made headlines during her 2018 run for Suffolk County district attorney when she said, if elected, the office would not prosecute those charged with a set of 15 […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
DCF head admits agency failed David AlmondÂ
THE TOP MASSACHUSETTS officials charged with protecting vulnerable children admitted Wednesday that the system failed badly in not preventing the death of Fall River teenager David Almond. “It is clear to […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
What happened to David Almond?
The state Office of the Child Advocate released a scathing 106-page report on Wednesday detailing enormous failures by the Department of Children and Families and others that ultimately led to […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Scathing report details DCF failures leading to death of Fall River boyÂ
THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIESÂ failed autistic teenager David Almond time and time again, making inexplicable decisions and ignoring danger signs until the 14-year-old died, emaciated and bruised, allegedly at […]