The Massachusetts Judicial Branch

Supreme Judicial Court

Amicus Announcement

SJC-11106


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 MAY 2012

 SJC-11106
Commonwealth v. Matthew G. Lavoie

Whether defense counsel at a criminal trial may waive the defendant's right to a public trial by making a strategic decision not to object to the exclusion of the defendant's family from jury voir dire without an explicit waiver by the defendant.

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

April 2012


Page updated: Apr 09 2012 03:27PM