The Massachusetts Judicial Branch

Supreme Judicial Court

Amicus Announcement

SJC-10287


THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT IS SOLICITING AMICUS BRIEFS OR MEMORANDA FROM INTERESTED PARTIES IN THE FOLLOWING MATTER PENDING BEFORE THE COURT

ARGUMENT IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 2009.
AMICUS SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 22, 2008


SJC-10287
Commonwealth v. Robert Murphy

Whether a District Court judge correctly ruled that written sobriety checkpoint guidelines gave police officers sufficient discretion so as to render the stops of drivers thereunder arbitrary and unconstitutional, requiring the suppression of all evidence seized as a result of those stops.

Interested parties may file their briefs in the Office of the Clerk for the Commonwealth, John Adams Courthouse, Suite 1-400, Pemberton Square, Boston MA 02108-1724 (Telephone 617-557-1020). Parties filing amicus briefs are expected to comply with the requirements of Rules 17, 19 and 20 of Mass. Rules of Appellate Procedure. Amicus briefs, to assist the court, should focus on the ramifications of a decision and not solely on the interests of the parties filing such briefs.

  Susan Mellen, Clerk

October 10, 2008