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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-10295
Commonwealth v. Robert Matranga

Whether a Superior Court judge had the authority under G. L. c. 261, § 27C, to direct CPCS (which is authorized under G. L. c. 211D, §§ 3, 9, 11, & 13, to compensate expert witnesses) not to pay an expert witness for services rendered to an indigent client in a civil commitment proceeding, where there was no controversy regarding the propriety of the expert's bill, the services rendered, or the sufficiency of the funds approved; whether the judge's order directing CPCS to withhold payment to the expert witness in a civil commitment proceeding based on a perceived overpayment to the same witness in an earlier proceeding is binding on CPCS where CPCS was not a party in the earlier proceeding.

 

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.

October 10, 2008