LeBaron v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-093-14)
NOTICE: All slip opinions and orders are subject to formal revision and are superseded by the advance sheets and bound volumes of the Official Reports. If you find a typographical error or other formal error, please notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, 1 Pemberton Square, Suite 2500, Boston, MA 02108-1750; (617) 557-1030; SJCReporter@sjc.state.ma.us SJC‑11599 NATHAN MARQUIS LeBARON vs. COMMONWEALTH. June 2, 2014. Supreme Judicial Court, Superintendence of inferior courts. Nathan Marquis LeBaron appeals from a judgment of a single justice of this court denying his petition for relief under G. L. c. 211, § 3. LeBaron was convicted in the Superior Court of various sex offenses. He argues, as he did before the single justice, that numerous legal and constitutional errors occurred in those proceedings.[1] Each of LeBaron’s claims can be raised in his direct appeal, which is currently pending in the Appeals Court.[2] There is no basis to grant extraordinary relief. “Our power under G. L. c. 211, § 3, is reserved for extraordinary circumstances and provides neither a substitute for the ordinary appellate process nor ‘an additional layer of appellate review after the normal process has run its course.’” Chen v. Commonwealth, 462 Mass. 1002 (2012), quoting Votta v. Police Dep’t of Billerica, 444 Mass. 1001, 1001 (2005). Judgment affirmed. The case was submitted on the briefs. Nathan Marquis LeBaron, pro se. Paul C. Wagoner, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth. [1] LeBaron made other requests before the single justice, such as requests for further discovery and for software for use in preparing his appellate brief. His brief to the full court presents no argument that the single justice erred or abused his discretion by denying these requests or any other relief. [2] At the time the case was submitted to us, LeBaron was proceeding pro se in the Appeals Court. He represents that the Committee for Public Counsel Services has since indicated that it will appoint counsel for him. Full-text Opinions
LeBaron v. Commonwealth (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-055-13)
NOTICE: All slip opinions and orders are subject to formal revision and are superseded by the advance sheets and bound volumes of the Official Reports. If you find a typographical error or other formal error, please notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, 1 Pemberton Square, Suite 2500, Boston, MA 02108-1750; (617) 557-1030; SJCReporter@sjc.state.ma.us SJC‑11245 NATHAN MARQUIS LeBARON vs. COMMONWEALTH. April 3, 2013. Supreme Judicial Court, Superintendence of inferior courts. Nathan Marquis LeBaron appeals from a judgment of a single justice of this court denying his petition for relief under G. L. c. 211, § 3. We affirm.[1] LeBaron was convicted in the Superior Court of several criminal offenses. His appeal from his convictions is pending in the Appeals Court, where he is represented by counsel. LeBaron, acting pro se, filed a motion in the Appeals Court; the court responded that it would consider only filings submitted by counsel of record. LeBaron’s G. L. c. 211, § 3, petition sought relief from that ruling as well as a stay of his appeal until such time as he is allowed to proceed without counsel, except for assistance with the clerical and practical tasks associated with his appeal. The single justice did not err or abuse his discretion by denying such relief, as LeBaron has “no constitutional right . . . to ‘hybrid representation,’ that is, representation in part by counsel and in part by oneself.” Commonwealth v. Molino, 411 Mass. 149, 152 (1991). See Azubuko v. Commonwealth, ante 1014, 1014 (2013) (“Absent extraordinary circumstances, a party represented by counsel in pending criminal proceedings is not entitled to challenge interlocutory rulings pro se”). While a court may, in its discretion, permit a party to proceed in a hybrid manner, it is not obligated to do so. See Commonwealth v. Molino, supra at 152-154. In addition, LeBaron filed in the county court what appears to be a draft brief in support of his criminal appeal, including instructions for counsel to carry out certain clerical tasks. It is unclear whether, by doing so, he was attempting to have the single justice address the merits of the arguments he intends to raise in the criminal appeal. To the extent that he was doing so, relief was properly denied. “Our general superintendence power under G. L. c. 211, § 3, is extraordinary and to be exercised sparingly, not as a substitute for the normal appellate process.” Votta v. Police Dep’t of Billerica, 444 Mass. 1001, 1001 (2005). Judgment affirmed. The case was submitted on briefs. Nathan Marquis LeBaron, pro se. Paul C. Wagoner, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth. [1] LeBaron […]