SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT INVITES COMMENTS
ON DRAFT RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Boston--The Supreme Judicial Court today announced that it is inviting comments on a package of proposed revisions to Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure 1, 3, 3.1, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 34.  The 155-page report proposing the amendments was prepared by the Supreme Judicial Court’s Standing Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure as part of the first comprehensive review of the Rules of Criminal Procedure since they were adopted in 1979. 

          A preliminary report on the proposed amendments was originally submitted to the Court in October of 1999.  The Court thereafter published the original draft revisions and invited comments from the bar, the public, and interested organizations and persons.  The Committee reviewed the extensive comments received and made numerous changes in the initial proposals.

          The Supreme Judicial Court now invites additional comments on the draft revision.  Comments should be sent, by letter or memorandum, by no later than September 15, 2003 to Robert Bloom, Esq., Supreme Judicial Court, 1350 New Courthouse, Boston, MA 02108.  After July 16, comments should be sent to Mr. Bloom at Supreme Judicial Court, One Beacon Street, 3rd floor, Boston MA 02108.                                                            

          The package of draft revisions to the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure can be found on the Supreme Judicial Court’s page of the Court’s web site at www.state.ma.us/courts.  Click on “SJC Home Page” under Shortcuts and then click on “Draft Rules of Criminal Procedure.”  The direct link to the rules package is www.state.ma.us/courts/reviscrimproc.pdf.