Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, Apr. 12, 2012
News from the courts
SJC invites comments on proposed amendments to Rules 12 and 29 of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure; SJC invites comments on proposed interim electronic filing guidelines and protocols for electronic filing pilot projects in the Trial and Appellate courts
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SJC invites comments on proposed
amendments to Rules 12 and 29 of the Massachusetts Rules of
Criminal Procedure
The Supreme Judicial Court's Standing Advisory Committee on the
Rules of Criminal Procedure invites comments on proposed amendments
to Rules 12 and 29 of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal
Procedure. In Commonwealth v. Rodriguez, 461 Mass. 256 (2012) and
Commonwealth v. Dean-Ganek, 461 Mass. 305 (2012), the court held
that Mass. R. Crim. P. 12 does not provide for plea agreements that
would bind a trial court judge once accepted, but asked the
Standing Advisory Committee to consider whether amendments to Rule
12 are necessary or appropriate and, if so, whether Rule 29 should
be amended to conform with any such amendments.
The committee welcomes all comments pertaining to the issues
raised by this proposal and will make recommendations to the SJC
after reviewing the comments submitted. Comments should be
directed to Attorney Barbara Berenson at [e-mail barbara.berenson] or at the Supreme
Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square ,
Boston MA 02108, on or before June 15.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SJC invites comments on proposed
interim electronic filing guidelines and protocols for electronic
filing pilot projects in the Trial and Appellate courts
The Supreme Judicial Court Rules Committee invites comments
on proposed Electronic Filing Guidelines and Protocols. The
protocols are intended to provide guidance during the
implementation of several electronic filing pilot projects that are
planned for both the Trial and Appellate Courts. Pilot projects
using electronic filing are expected to begin in the Appeals, BMC,
District, Probate and Supreme Judicial Court during the upcoming
months. The pilot projects will take place in one court
division each in the District, Boston Municipal and Probate and
Family Courts and in the offices of the Clerk of the Supreme
Judicial Court for the Commonwealth, the Clerk for Suffolk County
and the Appeals Court, for one particular case type. The pilot
projects will be available on a voluntary basis During the
period of the pilots projects, the protocols will serve as an
interim source of rules and procedures.
Click here to view the protocols.