Commonwealth v. Jason McCarthy, SJC-12750
The Supreme Judicial Court solicited amicus briefs on the following:
Whether either a search warrant or a court order is required before obtaining license plate recognition (ALPR) data collected from fixed points for a particular vehicle. See 18 U.S.C. §2518 (Electronic Communications Privacy Act); 18 U.S.C. §2703 (Stored Communications Act).
This is the first opportunity for the SJC to consider constitutional implications of a powerful and increasingly pervasive surveillance technology.
Joseph Buckman & Another v. Commissioner of Corrections & Others, SJC-12725
This case involves the application of the newly enacted compassionate relase statute, G.L. c.127, §119A. This statute was included as part of the criminal justice reform legislation of 2018 and became effective on April 13, 2018. The amicus brief would allow CPCS input concerning important and novel issues that have a profound impact on many of our clients.
In Re: A.Z., SJC-12747
The case is presents several issues of importance to CPCS adult and juvenile clients facing involuntary alcohol/substance use disorder commitments under section 35. It raises multiple issues of first impression in the SJC.