The Massachusetts Judicial Branch

Supreme Judicial Court

Amicus Announcement

SJC-10454


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 OCTOBER 2009
AMICUS SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 21, 2009


SJC-10454
Commonwealth v. Matt H. Zubiel

 

Whether the defendant was entitled to required findings of not guilty of attempted dissemination of harmful matter to a minor on the ground that the online, text only, instant-messaging "chats" between him and an undercover police officer posing as a thirteen-year-old girl were neither "handwritten or printed material" nor "visual representation[s]," as those terms are used in the definition of "matter" set forth in G. L. c. 272, § 31.



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

May 20,  2009