> A Massachusetts Appeals Court decision, which was just denied further appellate review, Commonwealth v. Rosa, 73 Mass. App. Ct. 540 (2009), reminds us that sometimes criminal defense attorneys need to object during the prosecution’s closing argument. Traditionally, trial lawyers refrain from objecting during their opponent’s closing argument. I can think of two reasons for […]
Read more>Last week I went to a Boston Bar Association conference on representing college and university students at disciplinary hearings. In attendance was one of the BU deans, and several lawyers experienced in this area. The most challenging part about representing a college/university student is the tension between the school’s desire for contrition, and the criminal […]
Read more>A case argued earlier this month in the S.J.C., Commonwealth v. Johnson, SJC-10267, puts a spotlight on police departments’ double standard of “reasonable suspicion.” When Springfield Police officers approached a group of teenagers standing under a tree at 10AM, they asked Mr. Johnson to take his hands out of his pocket. A minute or two […]
Read more