Commonwealth v. Robinson (Lawyers Weekly No. 12-001-17)
Public trial violation during jury selection constitutes structural error requiring automatic reversal without showing prejudice when defendant and counsel were unaware of the closure.
Commonwealth
Commonwealth v. Cawthron (and three companion cases) (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-003-17)
Police witnessed suspected drug transaction in parking lot, approached defendants at their cars, separated them, and asked brief investigative questions. Encounter was Terry stop, not custodial interrogation requiring Miranda warnings.
Commonwealth v. Martinez (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-005-17)
Affirmed first-degree murder conviction where redacted news broadcast was properly admitted as context for defendant's confessions to shooting, given extensive redactions and limiting instructions.
Commonwealth v. Chism, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-004-17)
Affirmed. Video recording and transcript of police interrogation admitted at suppression hearing are judicial records presumptively open to public inspection despite defendant's fair trial concerns.
Commonwealth v. Antone (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-002-17)
Defendant convicted of cocaine trafficking after guilty plea denied motion to vacate based on chemist misconduct where substantial independent evidence and significant sentence reduction supported plea.
Commonwealth v. Resende (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-003-17)
Acquittal of felony-murder at second trial does not invalidate armed home invasion and assault convictions from first trial; different juries need not reach consistent verdicts.
Commonwealth v. Maguire (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-002-17)
Detective testified to disgust and concern for victims, but not personal shock. No evidence actual victims noticed or reacted. Vicarious concern insufficient for lewdness conviction.
Commonwealth v. Peterson (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-001-17)
School zone statute does not apply to drug offender who was passenger in vehicle momentarily stopped by red light adjacent to public park.
Commonwealth v. Doe (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-180-16)
Appeals court vacates denial of record sealing in case terminated by nolle prosequi, rejecting requirement defendant prove job rejection.
Commonwealth v. Roe (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-181-16)
Conviction reversed where trial judge admitted precluded bad act testimony without prompt curative instruction and failed to limit prejudicial character evidence with jury instructions.