SJC Opinions of 2015

Every Supreme Judicial Court decision published on this site from 2015, in chronological order: 209 opinions, each with the full public-domain text and an original editorial summary. Browse other years from the opinion archive.

January 2015

• Commonwealth v. St. Hilaire (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-001-15) Jan 5
• Commonwealth v. Johnson (and a companion case) (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-202-14) Jan 6
• In the Matter of a Grand Jury Investigation (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-004-15) Jan 12
• Commonwealth v. Johnson (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-003-15) Jan 12
• Commonwealth v. Gomes (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-002-15) Jan 13
• Commonwealth v. Bresilla (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-005-15) Jan 16
• Commonwealth v. Corliss (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-006-15) Jan 20
• Commonwealth v. Simpkins (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-007-15) Jan 21
• Commonwealth v. Russell (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-008-15) Jan 26
• Commonwealth v. Fujita (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-009-15) Jan 28
• The First Marblehead Corporation, et al. v. Commissioner of Revenue (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-010-15) Jan 28
• Bay Colony Railroad Corporation v. Town of Yarmouth, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-011-15) Jan 29
• Chin v. Merriot (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-012-15) Jan 30
• Rodman v. Rodman (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-013-15) Jan 30
• Doktor v. Doktor (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-014-15) Jan 31

February 2015

• Doe, Sex Offender Registry Board No. 34186 v. Sex Offender Registry Board (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-015-15) Feb 2
• City of Somerville, et al. v. Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-016-15) Feb 3
• Commonwealth v. Santiago (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-017-15) Feb 4
• In the Matter of: Dwyer-Jones, Suzanne T. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-018-15) Feb 5
• Guardianship of V.V. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-019-15) Feb 10
• Commonwealth v. Brown (and a companion case) (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-020-15) Feb 11
• Commonwealth v. Cowels; Commonwealth v. Mims (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-021-15) Feb 12
• Commonwealth v. McGhee (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-023-15) Feb 13
• Commonwealth v. Ilya I., a juvenile (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-022-15) Feb 13
• Commonwealth v. Scott (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-204-14) Feb 17
• DIRECTV, LLC, et al. v. Department of Revenue (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-024-15) Feb 18
• Commonwealth v. Housewright (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-025-15) Feb 19
• Commonwealth v. Kelly (and 11 companion cases) (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-026-15) Feb 20
• Cohen v. Cohen (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-027-15) Feb 23
• Commonwealth v. Torres (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-028-15) Feb 23
• Commonwealth v. Cullity (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-029-15) Feb 24
• Commonwealth v. DiCicco (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-030-15) Feb 26
• Commonwealth v. Ramos (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-031-15) Feb 27
• Commonwealth v. Sheridan (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-032-15) Feb 27

March 2015

• Commonwealth v. Caetano (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-033-15) Mar 2
• Commonwealth v. Evelyn (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-034-15) Mar 3
• Commonwealth v. Ridge (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-035-15) Mar 3
• Palitz v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Tisbury, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-037-15) Mar 3
• Ortiz v. Examworks, Inc. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-036-15) Mar 3
• Commonwealth v. Arzola (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-038-15) Mar 4
• Soucy v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-039-15) Mar 6
• Abate v. Fremont Investment & Loan, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-040-15) Mar 9
• Chief of Police of the City of Worcester v. Holden (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-041-15) Mar 11
• Commonwealth v. Augustine (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-042-15) Mar 11
• Commonwealth v. Didas (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-043-15) Mar 13
• Fitzgerald v. District Court Department of the Trial Court (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-044-15) Mar 13
• Commonwealth v. Dagraca-Teixeira (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-045-15) Mar 16
• Commonwealth v. Okoro (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-047-15) Mar 23
• Diatchenko, et al. District Attorney for the Suffolk District, et al.; Commonwealth v. Roberio (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-046-15) Mar 23
• Commonwealth v. DaSilva (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-149-15) Mar 26
• Commonwealth v. Hernandez (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-048-15) Mar 26

April 2015

• McCarthy, et al. v. The Governor, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-050-15) Apr 7
• Commonwealth v. Cotto (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-051-15) Apr 8
• Commonwealth v. Ware (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-052-15) Apr 8
• Commonwealth v. Jessup (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-053-15) Apr 9
• Commonwealth v. Smith (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-056-15) Apr 9
• Commonwealth v. Jones (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-054-15) Apr 9
• Walden Behavioral Care v. K.I. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-055-15) Apr 9
• Meshna, et al. v. Scrivanos, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-057-15) Apr 10
• Commonwealth v. Tran (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-058-15) Apr 10
• Machado, et al. v. System4 LLC, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-059-15) Apr 13
• Commonwealth v. Colondres (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-060-15) Apr 13
• Commonwealth v. Newson (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-061-15) Apr 14
• Deutsche Bank National Trust Company v. Fitchburg Capital, LLC, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-062-15) Apr 15
• Commonwealth v. Foster (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-063-15) Apr 16
• Commonwealth v. Jackson (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-064-15) Apr 16
• Reckis, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-065-15) Apr 17
• Renaud v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-066-15) Apr 17
• Galenski v. Town of Erving, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-067-15) Apr 17
• Sebago, et al. v. Boston Cab Dispatch, Inc., et al. (and a consolidated case) (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-068-15) Apr 21
• Commonwealth v. Canning (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-069-15) Apr 27
• Forlizzi, et al. v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-070-15) Apr 28
• In the Matter of Simkin (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-071-15) Apr 29
• Starks v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-072-15) Apr 30
• Britton v. Board of Bar Examiners (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-074-15) Apr 30
• Commonwealth v. Amran (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-073-15) Apr 30

May 2015

• Christakis v. Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-075-15) May 6
• Adoption of a Minor (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-076-15) May 7
• Commonwealth v. Brescia (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-077-15) May 8
• Commonwealth v. Vaughn (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-078-15) May 12
• Maryland Casualty Company, et al. v. NSTAR Electric Company, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-079-15) May 14
• DaRosa, et al. v. City of New Bedford (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-081-15) May 17
• Commonwealth v. Tavares (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-080-15) May 17
• Bridgeman v. District Attorney for the Suffolk District, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-082-15) May 18
• Vale v. Valchuis, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-083-15) May 22
• Commonwealth v. Magdalenski (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-084-15) May 22
• Felix F. v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-086-15) May 26
• Kimbroughtillery v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-085-15) May 26
• Walter E. Fernald Corporation v. The Governor, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-087-15) May 29

June 2015

• Commonwealth v. Pagan (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-088-15) Jun 1
• Commonwealth v. Alcantara (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-089-15) Jun 1
• Monell, et al. v. Boston Pads, LLC, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-090-15) Jun 3
• Commonwealth v. Asher (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-091-15) Jun 9
• Hays v. Ellrich (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-092-15) Jun 10
• Commonwealth v. Jewett (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-093-15) Jun 11
• Commonwealth v. Silva (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-094-15) Jun 11
• Commonwealth v. Camblin (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-096-15) Jun 12
• Opinion of the Justices to the House of Representatives (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-097-15) Jun 15
• Commonwealth v. Kostka (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-098-15) Jun 17
• Commonwealth v. Figueroa (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-099-15) Jun 18
• Sarkisian v. Concept Restaurants, Inc. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-100-15) Jun 23
• Commonwealth v. Kolenovic (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-101-15) Jun 23
• Commonwealth v. Dorvil (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-102-15) Jun 25
• Commonwealth v. Bastaldo (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-103-15) Jun 25
• Commonwealth v. Libby (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-104-15) Jun 26
• Commonwealth v. Wallace (and a companion case) (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-105-15) Jun 30

July 2015

• Commonwealth v. Dossantos (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-106-15) Jul 1
• Schussel, et al. v. Commissioner of Revenue (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-107-15) Jul 1
• Commonwealth v. Libby (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-108-15) Jul 1
• Commonwealth v. Companonio (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-109-15) Jul 6
• Doyle v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-110-15) Jul 6
• Shipps v. District Attorney for the Norfolk District (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-111-15) Jul 6
• Vigiard v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-112-15) Jul 7
• Showtime Entertainment, LLC v. Town of Mendon, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-113-15) Jul 8
• Commonwealth v. Gorham (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-114-15) Jul 8
• Commonwealth v. Clark (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-115-15) Jul 9
• Commonwealth v. Costa (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-116-15) Jul 9
• DeMatos v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-117-15) Jul 10
• Commonwealth v. Alcide (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-118-15) Jul 13
• Commonwealth v. Mulgrave (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-119-15) Jul 13
• Pinti, et al. v. Emigrant Mortgage Company, Inc., et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-122-15) Jul 19
• Carrington v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-123-15) Jul 19
• Wong v. Luu, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-121-15) Jul 19
• Commonwealth v. Scesny (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-120-15) Jul 20
• Rodriguez v. City of Somerville (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-124-15) Jul 20
• Commonwealth v. Carney (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-125-15) Jul 21
• Commonwealth v. Traylor (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-126-15) Jul 22
• Commonwealth v. Melo (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-127-15) Jul 23
• Commonwealth v. Brewer (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-128-15) Jul 24
• Commonwealth v. Lessieur (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-129-15) Jul 27
• Tirado v. Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability Policies and Bonds (and two companion cases) (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-130-15) Jul 28
• Commonwealth v. Fritz (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-131-15) Jul 29
• Commonwealth v. Roberts (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-132-15) Jul 30
• Rosencranz v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-134-15) Jul 31
• Pugsley v. Police Department of Boston, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-133-15) Jul 31

August 2015

• Murray v. Town of Hudson, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-135-15) Aug 3
• Commonwealth v. Lang (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-136-15) Aug 4
• Commonwealth v. Lucas (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-137-15) Aug 6
• Commonwealth v. McGhee (and seven companion cases) (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-138-15) Aug 13
• Commonwealth v. Jones-Pannell (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-139-15) Aug 14
• Commonwealth v. Douglas (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-140-15) Aug 14
• Commonwealth v. Augustine (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-141-15) Aug 18
• Commonwealth v. Monroe (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-142-15) Aug 19
• Doe No. 7083 v. Sex Offender Registry Board (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-143-15) Aug 21
• Doe No. 3839 v. Sex Offender Registry Board (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-144-15) Aug 22
• Commonwealth v. Bruneau (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-145-15) Aug 27
• Commonwealth v. Freeman, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-146-15) Aug 27
• Doe, et al. v. City of Lynn (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-147-15) Aug 28

September 2015

• Coghlin Electrical Contractors, Inc. v. Gilbane Building Company, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-149-15) Sep 2
• Commonwealth v. Dorazio (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-148-15) Sep 2
• Reade v. Secretary of the Commonwealth, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-150-15) Sep 3
• Commonwealth v. Sallop (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-151-15) Sep 3
• Commonwealth v. Camacho (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-152-15) Sep 8
• Commonwealth v. Penn (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-153-15) Sep 9
• Kace v. Liang (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-154-15) Sep 10
• Boyle, et al. v. Zurich American Insurance Company (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-155-15) Sep 14
• Commerce Insurance Co., Inc. v. Gentile, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-156-15) Sep 16
• Commonwealth v. Niemic (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-157-15) Sep 17
• Commonwealth v. Walters (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-158-15) Sep 18
• Commonwealth v. Jones (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-159-15) Sep 21
• Hickey v. Pathways Association, Inc., et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-161-15) Sep 22
• Commonwealth v. Rodriguez (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-160-15) Sep 22
• C.E. v. J.E. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-162-15) Sep 23
• Sherman v. Town of Randolph, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-164-15) Sep 24
• Malloch v. Town of Hanover, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-163-15) Sep 24
• Commonwealth v. Bonnett (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-165-15) Sep 24
• Commonwealth v. Scott (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-166-15) Sep 25
• Commonwealth v. Estabrook (and nine companion cases) (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-167-15) Sep 28
• Commonwealth v. Spinucci (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-169-15) Sep 29
• Skandha v. Clerk of the Superior Court for Civil Business in Suffolk County (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-168-15) Sep 29

October 2015

• Commonwealth v. Drayton (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-170-15) Oct 1
• Commonwealth v. Lang (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-171-15) Oct 1
• Commonwealth v. Lavrinenko (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-172-15) Oct 5
• Matter of Pansé, Chandrakant Shridhar (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-173-15) Oct 6
• Custody of Victoria (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-174-15) Oct 21
• Commonwealth v. Doe (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-175-15) Oct 22
• Champa v. Weston Public Schools, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-176-15) Oct 23
• Commonwealth v. Cameron (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-177-15) Oct 28
• Commonwealth v. Rivera (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-178-15) Oct 29

November 2015

• In the Matter of G.P. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-179-15) Nov 5
• Commonwealth v. Bell (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-180-15) Nov 9
• Recinos v. Escobar (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-181-15) Nov 10
• Commonwealth v. Foxworth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-182-15) Nov 12
• Commonwealth v. Mogelinski (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-183-15) Nov 13
• Commonwealth v. Cadet (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-184-15) Nov 18
• Monteiro v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-185-15) Nov 20
• Trapp, et al. v. Roden, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-186-15) Nov 23
• Commonwealth v. Chappell (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-187-15) Nov 23
• Commonwealth v. Watkins (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-188-15) Nov 24
• Scholz, et al. v. Delp; Scholz v. Boston Herald, Inc., et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-189-15) Nov 25
• Commonwealth v. Garrett (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-190-15) Nov 25

December 2015

• In the Matter of Chalupowski (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-191-15) Dec 1
• Field v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-192-15) Dec 2
• Commonwealth v. Tejeda (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-193-15) Dec 2
• Sliney v. Previte, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-194-15) Dec 9
• Brea v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-195-15) Dec 10
• Koll v. Edelstein (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-197-15) Dec 10
• Chin v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-196-15) Dec 10
• Doe, Sex Offender Registry Board No. 380316 v. Sex Offender Registry Board (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-198-15) Dec 11
• Souza v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-199-15) Dec 12
• Carrington v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-200-15) Dec 12
• Commonwealth v. Cole (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-201-15) Dec 18
• Maling v. Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-202-15) Dec 23
• Commonwealth v. St. Louis (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-203-15) Dec 23
• Wing v. Commissioner of Probation (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-204-15) Dec 28
• Commonwealth v. Hernandez (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-205-15) Dec 29
• Commonwealth v. Kaeppeler (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-206-15) Dec 30
• Commonwealth v. Gonzalez (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-207-15) Dec 30
• Afrasiabi v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-208-15) Dec 31