News & Updates

 

Following is a recent posting to the murder list from Rosemary Scapicchio:

Suffolk County Prosecutors are bullies. They have bullied Judge Duggan and got him kicked off of criminal cases. They have bullied CPCS and got our funding cut, now they are singling out defense attorneys and looking to bully us.  (I am sure they are still pissed about my comments to Dan Connelly at the state house.)

Specifically, Suffolk County DA's office met with the Appeals Court (Joe Stanton) to attempt to force the Appeals Court to order CPCS to re assign some cases I had because I was taking too long to find the evidence that they hid at trial.

The Appeals Court didn't bite. They then laid in wait until Judge Gants became the Single Justice on February 1, and filed Motions to vacate stays I had secured in two first degree murder cases, where again there are claims of withheld evidence.

They are specifically requesting that the SJC order CPCS to re assign the cases. I have learned that of all the attorneys who have requested numerous continuances, I am the only attorney they have chosen to attack.

This is the same DA's office that hid evidence in at least six different murders that resulted in six different wrongful convictions. I think it is outrageous and I am preparing a response

I am looking for as many examples as I can of occasions where the DA's office in Suffolk has requested continuances of more than six months, and/or not filed briefs until right before argument on any SJC or Appeals Court case. Any examples of them not playing by the rules.

They are bullies and we cannot let them single us out and pick us off one by one.

Send case examples to Rosemary Scapicchio <scapicchio_attorney@yahoo.com>

The state Senate Ways and Means Committee is expected to report out a criminal sentencing bill soon that does not include mandatory minimum reforms.

It’s possible that the bill will increase prison sentences and reduce parole eligibility for habitual offenders, but will offer no reforms for nonviolent drug offenders serving mandatory sentences.

It is highly unlikely that the Senate will take up a second criminal sentencing bill this session, so this is our only chance to get a Senate bill that includes mandatory minimum reforms.

Recently the House submitted its version of the Habitual Offender Bill (click here for text)

This Bill which was rushed into consideration in the House, would result in three strikes sentences in MA mandating life without parole. H3811 is even harsher than the notorious California Three Strikes law, which permits parole after 25 years. It will be voted on TODAY (Wednesday). Please call your Rep as soon as possible After tomorrow, the House will be in recess.

Calling is preferable to emailing because of the time crunch.

Find them here: www.WhereDoIVoteMA.com<http://www.wheredoivotema.com/> and enter your address.

Committee chairs and board mambers will have the authourity to post to their own News and Update page.  They may grant authority to read only or to authorize memebrs to comment and reply.

So, the text here might be a one or two paragraph message from the president about something that happens to be in in the newspaper. It could be a short summary of whatever took place at a meeting of the ledislative committee or a summary of cases in the agenda of the amicus committee. As a rule, they should not be too long.